Evidence of meeting #5 for Finance in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was garon.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karina Gould
Thank you, Minister.
Thank you, Mr. MacDonald.
Just before I turn back to Mr. Garon, I'll ask Mr. Kelly to please keep his comments to himself. Everyone else is able to listen. Thank you.
Mr. Garon, go ahead.
Bloc
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
Minister, during the election campaign, your government bought votes a few days before the election by refunding a carbon tax that they had not paid in seven provinces. It was refunded in advance.
I see that you are taking out your notes and that you already have a prepared answer.
I know you are going to tell me that this is not the case, but the former parliamentary budget officer, Mr. Giroux, confirmed this to us.
One of your officials, Mr. Coulombe, confirmed to us that the tax was refunded before it was paid.
Do you still maintain your position? Are you going to continue to say that you did not make this refund with money that had not been collected?
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
First, you saw that I moved my notes, because I don’t need notes to answer you, Mr. Garon.
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
I see you every day, I like your questions and I like your work. You are doing a good job.
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
You've heard the answer from the officials. It's a technical answer. It was provided to you, and I even saw it on your social media.
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Quebec has a different carbon pricing system from that of the other provinces and is known as the carbon exchange. A rebate was paid to the provinces where the tax existed, and the money did come from the consolidated revenue fund.
When you look at—
Bloc
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
You took your 35 seconds, Minister.
Minister, in those provinces, the federal government sent out cheques before the tax was collected.
You owe the Government of Quebec $814 million. That's from Mr. Giroux, the former parliamentary budget officer, appointed by your government.
How long are you going to keep telling us that the Earth is flat?
Will you pay back the $814 million you owe Quebec?
Is the reimbursement of the $814 million included in your budget?
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Garon, as I told you, that money does come from the consolidated revenue fund.
When the Samuel De Champlain Bridge was built in Montreal, the money also came from the fund.
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
When the Quebec City bridge was built, the money also came from the consolidated revenue fund.
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
To carry out the Port of Montreal expansion project in Contrecœur, we dipped into the consolidated revenue fund.
Bloc
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I have a point of order, Madam Chair. I'm really conscious of the interpreters. I was in the procedure and House affairs committee. We heard about acoustic shock, the fact that our interpreters can't regulate the sound and they use their ears and voices. I'm surprised that a Bloc member would talk over someone, knowing how sensitive the interpreters' ears are. We'd like to avoid injuries among that valuable resource.
Liberal
Bloc
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
On the point of order, I understand my colleague's concern. It's true that we have to be careful.
However, Madam Chair, we are in a committee meeting and a question was asked. Minister Champagne is almost reading his budget in advance to avoid answering this question. I'm asking him to answer my question. It's his job to do so.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karina Gould
Please, Mr. Garon, Minister and all committee members, let's think about the interpreters.
Bloc
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
The question is very simple, Minister. You know that I really appreciate you.
Is the reimbursement of the $814 million owed to Quebec included in your budget?
You were going to read me your budget. Is the reimbursement part of it?
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Out of respect for the interpreters, I apologize, Madam Chair.
We're going to try to do better for those who help us do our jobs here.
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Garon, I told you that the money used for the rebates came from the consolidated revenue fund.