Thank you very much, Chair.
Merry Christmas to all the panellists. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the Canadian people.
I want to start with a quick remark with respect to Mr. Blaikie's soliloquy there.
It was once said by a very wise person that progressives define compassion as how many people government can help; Conservatives define compassion as how many people government does not have to help. We want to be in a position where Canadians can afford their own food and their own housing. That's really the difference between our side of the table and the other side.
I'm just a simple guy from Orono, Ontario. I assume that you, as deputy minister of finance, should have control over the money. The dollars that all the taxpayers are paying is really your thing, right?