Finance Committee on Nov. 28th, 2022

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

In the spirit of transparency, would you table what it's for?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

We—

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Answer yes or no. Are you going to table it or not?

You can say no.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Our government presents and our finance presents—

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

I'm going to go on to my next question. I have limited time.

I'll take that as a no.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I think the chair has asked us, when interrupting each other, to do that through the chair, please.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

I have limited time—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Minister and MP Morantz, we don't want crosstalk—

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

It's for those who are viewing and those who are here in the room—

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

It's nothing personal. I just have limited time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

—it is very difficult to listen

MP Morantz, if we don't cut each other off.... Please, let's not have any crosstalk.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Sure.

It's not my intention to interrupt you, Minister. I'm very interested in what you have to say.

You issued a directive to your cabinet colleagues that they must find internal savings of 25¢ for every new dollar of spending. Across all government departments, what's the total amount of internal savings you asked them for? A number would be good.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I'm afraid that internal deliberations within the government and internal communication within the government are not something I'm at liberty to discuss within this committee. I'm also not sure what directive Mr. Morantz is referring to.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

I'll go on to my next question, but it was reported in the Toronto Star. You can have a look at the article.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I'm glad the Conservative members see the Toronto Star as a good source of information and economic analysis.

[An hon. member]

That's questionable.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

The Governor of the Bank of Canada was here last week. I'm wondering if you're familiar with his testimony. He said that, if government deficits over the last two years had been lower, inflation in Canada would have been lower. Do you disagree with his opinion?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Let me say two things about that.

First of all, judged by any international standard, Canada's debt and deficit situation, and our fiscal stewardship overall, absolutely holds up. Any objective measure that anyone here can name demonstrates that.

The second thing I will say is that our government undertook significant spending during the COVID recession, and that was the right thing to do. Most importantly, that spending has allowed for a remarkable employment recovery in Canada. Here, 117% of the jobs lost to COVID have been recovered, compared to 103% in the U.S. That is worth it.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

I want to know if you disagree with his statement.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I've answered your question.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

I'll take that as a no.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

You can take it any way you wish.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Sure. Okay.

Out of curiosity, you're increasing the price of a beer by 6.3%, of all things. That's sacrilege in Canada. Canadians love their beer. I realize we've asked you to take off the carbon tax, all of those paycheque taxes and all of those things, but at least for a beer, can you give Canadians a break in the spring? You can make a big announcement right now.

I'll finish my round with that.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I guess that stands alongside crypto as one of the Conservative Party's main pieces of financial advice.