Evidence of meeting #2 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
9:45 p.m.
Bloc
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Chair, according to the interpreter, the problem seems to be a bad connection.
9:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Make sure you stay on the language you're speaking. It is always better. I think it may have been a bad connection on their end.
Go ahead. The floor is yours.
9:45 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First, I'd like Mr. Ste-Marie to know that I understand how hard it is to spend the whole evening listening to a discussion almost exclusively in English, so I'll do my best to speak in French.
As I was saying, I'm glad to sit on a committee alongside Mr. Falk once again. I was fortunate enough to be on the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights with him for a long time.
This evening, I'd like to discuss—
9:45 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Unfortunately, it's very hard to hear what's being said in both official languages. Mr. Housefather may need to reconnect to the meeting.
I also see that Mr. Poilievre is there, and I think he was ahead of Mr. Housefather. Mr. Poilievre could start while Mr. Housefather gets his connection sorted out.
9:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
We will do that.
Do you still want to speak, Mr. Poilievre? We couldn't find you.
9:45 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
I was right here the whole time, Mr. Chair. I haven't moved.
9:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I yelled at you two or three times. I said all good things about you, though.
9:45 p.m.
Conservative
9:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Mr. Housefather, we'll let you try to fix your technical problems, and we'll go to Mr. Poilievre.
9:45 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Listen, we have work to do here. People want us to fix this disastrous economy: the top unemployment in the G7, the top deficit in the G20. The economy is in a state of ruin. It's the worst economy.
9:45 p.m.
Liberal
9:45 p.m.
Liberal
Sean Fraser Liberal Central Nova, NS
I know that Mr. Julian has been quick to point out issues of relevance and, frankly, both relevance and repetition. I'm curious about how the opening remarks relate to the subamendment.
9:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Mr. Poilievre, we are on the subamendment. Do you have it in front of you? Or I can read it.
9:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Yes. Well, if you will let me finish a sentence.... I think the problem here is that Mr. Fraser doesn't want any facts to be known about how bad the economy is and how disastrous his government's record is on economic matters.
9:50 p.m.
Liberal
9:50 p.m.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
This sounds a lot like question period. He's getting into debate.
I'm sure that Mr. Poilievre likes to hear himself speak. I'm even open to listening to him speak, but not when it's out of order. That has no relevance. His comments have no relevance to the subamendment.
9:50 p.m.
Liberal
9:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Right. It's good to know that the Liberals think unemployment has no relevance to them.
9:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
The subamendment deals with effectively how we're going to manage committee business. Let's get real here. That's what we're actually talking about. The fact that the Liberals don't think unemployment, the millions of Canadians who are without a job, is relevant to the finance committee really says something about their—
9:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Order, Mr. Poilievre. The subamendment relates to the package of documents and whether public servants are allowed to respond to the redactions in the documents. That's basically what it is, in short form—