Finance Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

By doing this, the government has deprived itself of revenue for the next five years. How much is this revenue?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

You know, when you undertake negotiations—

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

I’m just asking you for a figure. What I’m asking you for is quantitative. I just want to know how much revenue we’re losing out on, rather than getting into all that oratory.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

We need to provide context so that people understand.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

I want to see the figures. How much is this income in Canadian dollars, in local currency?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I have them, but I still want to give you some context. In a complex negotiation like this one—

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Minister, this is what bothers me. You’re wasting time. My question—

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

We need to provide some context.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

No, tell me how much money you’re giving up. I’d be happy to hear it. It’s Thursday.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I do want to make you happy.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

So give me a figure.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Give me a minute, and I will get back to you on that.

Oh yes, listen—

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

I am a patient man, Minister. You know me, I am patient.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

You’re going to find this takes a while. Just give me a minute.

Unless the deputy minister has the figure to hand, I can give it to you. Otherwise, I’ll give you the answer later.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

I may know what it could look like.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

If you know—

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

I am always here to help you, Minister.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I’m glad you are.

I know you are a renowned economist.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

It’s like in Indiana Jones; I wear my heart on my sleeve, Minister.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Your heart on your sleeve…. I don’t know about that.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

It’s $7.2 billion. You gave that up. We understand the context. I didn’t want us to argue about it. We disagree, we understand the context and we know what you’re going to say. We agree on that.

You know there is a crisis in the media. During the election campaign, you offered $150 million to CBC/Radio-Canada. We weren’t against that idea, but you know there is a major crisis in the private media, which is the heartbeat of our democracy.

I would like to know why there is nothing for them in the budget. Why aren’t you more generous? Why aren’t you extending the funds to newsrooms so that they apply to traditional media?

When you think about the next budget, do you have measures in mind to support our private media, our regional media or private television, so that the heart of democracy continues to beat?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Yes, measures are already in place, and you are correct.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

I want to know what the next measures will be.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

This is something we have in mind. You’ve seen, for instance, that additional funds have been allocated to CBC/Radio-Canada to help them.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

I am talking about the others, the private media.