I thank the minister for his time and his appearance today.
Minister, you've heard that members are concerned about a speedy stimulus package. In light of that, I would like to bring to your attention what I consider some disturbing comments and invite you to explain them.
“I'm not going to take a GST hike off the table.” This comment was made to City-TV News, December 18, 2008. That's the first quote, Minister.
The second quote, just a couple of weeks ago: “We voted a budget which contains a very substantial injection of stimulus into the economy. We voted for it in April. It's not coherent intellectually or economically for me to come out in May and say, 'Put another $30 billion in. I'm perfectly willing to come back in September and October'.”
That comment was made in a press conference on May 3, 2009.