Thank you.
If I could do a quick summary, I will then pass on my time to the next person on the list.
From the opposition's perspective, we've been having a discussion about ministerial accountability in this committee, in our effort to get Minister Freeland to attend and answer questions for two hours, not one hour, for her 2023 budget. It lays out a fiscal framework of spending $3.1 trillion in the next five years.
We have been unable to get that commitment. I appreciate that the minister is now coming at noon, so we'll look forward to posing questions there.
I guess the skepticism we were pushing forward has obviously had some impact. On the three previous occasions in the last six months that the committee has invited the minister to attend, including on estimates, she was unable to attend. My understanding is that, under the Standing Orders, it's generally mandatory for ministers to attend estimates. The Minister of Finance did not.
We're happy that she's chosen to be here today.
In the 48 days, I think it's been since January, that the House has been sitting, the minister had, as of yesterday, attended seven times in question period. Hopefully today will be the eighth time in 49 days—if you include today—that she attends to answer questions about the impacts of this spending on the cost of living for Canadians.
With regard to the cost of living, as we know, we have record and persistent food inflation, which is hurting many families. It poses a lot of questions. We need to ask the minister about why, in spending this amount of money and adding $130 billion to the national debt, she believes it will reduce inflation to make life more affordable for Canadians.
Mr. Chair, at that, I'll conclude my time.
Maybe I'll be put back on the speakers list, if I can, at the bottom. I'll pass it on to the others.