Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Public Works.
As various observers sound the alarm on the disturbing state of public finances and the federal deficit, the government announced that this year, it will blithely spend $67 million on polls to which Canadians will not have access although they pay for them through their taxes.
Considering the present state of public finances and the federal deficit, what justification can the minister give us for the fact that his government will squander as much as $67 million on polls conducted by friends of the government, since the contracts will be awarded at the discretion of the ministers?