Evidence of meeting #121 for Finance in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was grocery.
A video is available from Parliament.
1 p.m.
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
We get the minister so seldom here. I think we should be allowed to ask the questions we want to ask. I believe that's called democracy.
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
Yes, MP Lawrence, you can ask the questions you want to ask. You have to then listen to the answers. I don't want crosstalk. It affects the interpreters.
We hear this all the time, and we want these things to stop here at our committee, so I'm asking—
1 p.m.
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON
On the point of order, with respect, we have seen that Minister Freeland and all Liberal ministers are adept at filibustering their way out of—
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
That is not a point of order, MP Lawrence. What we're talking about right now are the health and safety of our interpreters, stopping crosstalk, and respect and decorum.
I'm going to allow the minister to answer the question. Then MP Hallan will have time to ask his next question.
MP Hallan.
1 p.m.
Conservative
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
Mr. Chair, I'll ask in another way. The governor said—
1 p.m.
Liberal
1 p.m.
Conservative
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
MP Hallan, again, the minister had the floor. Allow the minister to finish the answer to your question and then ask your next question.
Minister.
1 p.m.
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
I was asked a direct question about comments from the Governor of the Bank of Canada. I responded by directly—
1 p.m.
Conservative
1 p.m.
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
—quoting comments he made about fiscal policy last week.
Let me simply say that the governor said, after I tabled the fall economic statement, “The fall economic statement also includes some new fiscal guardrails beyond the near term, and from the perspective of monetary policy, I do think that's helpful.”
We've had a clear statement from the Governor of the Bank of Canada—
1 p.m.
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
—about the fall economic statement and how fiscal policy and monetary policy are working.
1 p.m.
Conservative
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
He said what would not be helpful is if you spend above 2.5%, and in your own fall economic statement, the calculations worked out to more than 5.5%. Was the Governor of the Bank of Canada lying, yes or no? It's just a yes or no.
1 p.m.
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
As I said, the governor had an opportunity last Wednesday to comment directly on the fall economic statement. He did, and I've quoted his remarks precisely.
1 p.m.
Conservative
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
I'll take that answer as you don't agree with the governor.
I'll have to move on.
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
I'm going to interject.
MP Hallan, again, I don't want this happening for the whole meeting.
MP Hallan, you'll ask your question, you'll get an answer and then you can ask your next question, but do not crosstalk for the interpreters' sake. We hear about this all the time from the interpreters, so we're going to stop this behaviour.
November 23rd, 2023 / 1 p.m.
Conservative
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
Chair, I have six minutes to ask questions.
1 p.m.
Conservative
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
It was a simple yes-or-no answer. I'm going to move on, Chair.
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
You still have three minutes and seven seconds. The time is stopped.
Go ahead.
1 p.m.
Conservative
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
I'll move on.
Minister, what are the interest payments Canadian taxpayers are stuck with next year on your government's debt? I just need the number.
1 p.m.
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
The debt service charges are outlined in detail in English on page 77 of the fall economic statement and—
1 p.m.
Conservative