Government Operations Committee on Feb. 15th, 2018

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

—that celebrates one of Canada's great pastimes, skating.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

What a great idea, which was killed by the stupid spending of money.

That's the reality, sir. I do respect Canada. I do respect its history. I do respect the capital. I do respect hockey, our national sport. But I will never spend $8.2 million for a hockey rink in front of Parliament. You killed a good idea. Don't you believe that?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Look, I believe very strongly that in Canada 150 the investments made, big and small in communities big and large across Canada, have made a real difference in terms of Canadians celebrating our country.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Why is public money spent—

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

I think those investments...and there were investments in Quebec City. There were investments in communities in my riding—

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

In this case, it's the hockey rink, Minister.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

There are big and small investments across the country and I think they've made a real difference.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Did this hockey rink, $8.2 million, make a real difference? Was it a wise spending of money?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

I believe very strongly that the 120,000 people who came to Ottawa who skated on that ice and who were celebrating Canada's athletic traditions.... This is actually something, within Canada 150, that reflects a shared value of Canada—

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

The value of Canadians to spend—

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

—and that is the ability to have fun in very cold Ottawa winters.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

That's incredible, Madam Chair. I think it's a yes, but it's not a good signal to send to Canadians that the Treasury Board minister, the one who says yes or no for spending money, says that $8.2 million for a hockey rink is correct in front of Parliament. That's nonsense. What example is coming from the top when we see a government spending too much money without having any control, with a deficit of.... How much is the deficit this year? When will you get back to zero deficit?

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—Saint-Lambert, QC]

This is going nowhere.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

When you spend too much, you have these kinds of stupid examples, and a hockey rink is a stupid spending of money. This is where we stand.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Deltell, I have great respect. You're a very effective member of Parliament. Don't put that in your brochure next time, the people will be cross—

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

I will.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

I can tell you.... You talk about hockey and you talk about the waste of money. The previous government spent about a billion dollars on government advertising. Some of that was for 30-second advertisements during the NHL playoffs, 30 seconds that cost $100,000 each. If you want to talk about spending money when you spend about a billion dollars as a government on quasi-partisan government advertising.... Our government has actually cut by half government advertising expenses, and when you cut—

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

What we see in that demonstration, Madam Speaker—

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

—that quantum of waste, you can afford to invest in good recreational opportunities.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

—is a clear example that unfortunately the minister cannot say clearly that it's absolutely stupid to spend $8.2 million for a hockey rink in front of Parliament. This is a great idea. I do support it, but not with that money, not with so much money. That's crazy. I hope the minister believes me.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Your time is up, Mr. Deltell. I'd like to thank the witnesses. I thank the minister for being here, and thank you, all, for being here. It's been a lively meeting.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Thank you very much.

Madam Chair, I want to thank all the members of the committee. It's great to be back with you, and I'm looking forward to coming back next time.

I want to come back to the departmental results framework, and I would also commend to you a demonstration of the InfoBase system. We've strengthened it a lot, and I think it would be good for you, as members, but also for staff, who are probably more familiar in some cases than members.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Yaprak, we wish you the best in what you do, and I hope you will keep in touch. Take care.

[Yaprak Baltacioglu]

Thank you, Madam Chair. It has been a pleasure.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you. The meeting is adjourned.