No, I disagree. But anyway, proceed.
Evidence of meeting #87 for Finance in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ministers.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #87 for Finance in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ministers.
A video is available from Parliament.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
No, I disagree. But anyway, proceed.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
Okay. We'll allow for the answer. Then, MP Morantz, you'll have the floor.
Go ahead.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
The truth is that Canada's budgetary practice going back to the early eighties is actually really smart, and it's nothing to do with me and this particular government. It's how all budgets have been done since then. The fiscal projections—the sort of base scenario of what we believe is going to happen to growth, to inflation, to the price of oil, those kinds of key components—are not figured out by smart Finance officials like the people sitting with me. They come from the projections of private sector economists and the average of their projections.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
There's no answer, unfortunately, on that, Mr. Chair.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
The minister, on this question, has had at least twice as much time now than I took to ask the question. I would like my time back so I can move on.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
Just allow the minister to conclude, and then we'll get to your question.
Minister?
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
The basic point is that the projections of private sector economists about the direction of the Canadian economy changed significantly between September of last year and the beginning of this year, and that led to a meaningful swing in the underlying—
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Mr. Chair, she's not answered the question.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
She's gone on [Inaudible—Editor] four times. I have a point of order.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
I want to make it clear that the idea is that we ask a question and the response takes roughly the same amount of time. It doesn't have to be to the second, but her response was three or four times longer than my question. I'd like some time back so I can ask her—
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
MP Morantz, you have time right now. We did pause the time, so you have an opportunity.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
I know and you have another point of order, but I think we need to solve this problem.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Chair, the Conservatives are asking questions of the minister on topics that are complex and require the minister time to be able to answer them. It shouldn't be hard for the Conservatives to understand that. In this particular case, the minister took more time to respond to the question than Mr. Morantz took in asking it. But in most of the cases so far, what has happened is that they've taken time to ask the question, and before the minister has had equal time, they've interrupted and heckled her. I would ask you, Chair, to allow the minister to —