Mr. Speaker, I certainly have some questions for the minister. It is interesting to hear both the parliamentary secretary and the minister talk about financial accountability when we have a situation in the House right now where we cannot get information from the government.
My question to the minister is straightforward. Why is he imposing a double standard?
On the one hand, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has to go to the courts, and on the other hand, the government continually says it wants to be transparent and accountable and yet does not provide documents with respect to staffing cuts, comparability around education, legal costs. This department spends millions of dollars on legal costs.
My question to the minister is this. Why does he think a double standard is acceptable in this country and this day and age?