Debates of May 26th, 2021

Finance—Main Estimates, 2021-22

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I am going to remind the hon. member to direct his speech to the Chair, and we will stay on that track.

The hon. minister.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, I do think if people want to speak about graceful or disgraceful behaviour, we have to be careful to follow the rules.

I think it is absolutely correct and legitimate, when it comes to talking about our entire relationship with China, to take into account issues of human rights and, in particular, the arbitrary detention of these two brave Canadians, and I certainly do.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, the estimates show that her government has already contributed $50 million of taxpayers' money to this bank. She is planning on contributing another $49 million.

Now, did the minister and her government make the return of the two Michaels a condition for investing taxpayers' dollars in this China-led bank?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, as I said, I think that we need to look very carefully, when we think about all aspects of our relationship with China and put as a priority the detention of these two brave Canadians, and we need to ensure we have the support of our allies in doing that.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, I will take that as a “no”.

Is the minister aware that this China-led bank is the biggest multilateral funder of dirty coal projects in southeast Asia?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, let me say how delighted I am to learn that the member opposite is concerned about the environment, and let me say I hope that he and his party will support the price on carbon our government has introduced.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, did the government conduct a gender-based analysis of this China-led investment, especially in light of the horrific treatment of Uighur women in western China?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, I think it is very appropriate to raise the issue of the Uighurs, which was discussed just ahead of this meeting of the committee of the whole, and as I said at the beginning of this conversation, I absolutely believe that the appalling treatment of the Uighurs, the situation in Hong Kong and, first and foremost, the detention of two brave Canadians needs to be—

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The hon. member.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, I will take that as a “no” that the government did not conduct a gender-based analysis of this China-led investment.

I am just flabbergasted that a government that has put a singular focus on intersectionality would not find it puzzling that this taxpayer investment in a China-led bank did not have a gender-based lens applied to it.

How can that be?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, let me welcome the enthusiasm of the member opposite for a gender-based lens and for intersectionality, and let me offer to the member opposite and all members of his party a briefing on our government's approach to gender-based analysis in the budget process.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, how many Canadians have been employed on projects funded by the AIIB so far?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, as I said, and it would be interesting to hear the view of the member opposite, I am very glad to hear his enthusiasm for a gender-based analysis, and that is something that maybe we should all be talking about a little more.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, that was not my question. I asked how many Canadians have been employed on projects that have been funded by the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Surely she would know; she is the finance minister of Canada.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, I am indeed the finance minister, and I am aware of that. Let me simply say that when it comes to our relationship with China, I actually agree with some of the intent of the questions the member has been asking, and I do think we need to take into account particularly the appalling treatment of the Uighurs.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, she agrees with the intent of the question, but will not answer the question, so here is another one.

How many Canadian businesses have benefited from the investment the Liberal government has made into the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, I am glad to hear finally a question about Canadian businesses, because it gives me a chance to remind all Canadians that more than 870,000 Canadian businesses have benefited from a program of our government, the CEBA loans.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, that was not the question, so I will ask another one.

Has the government done a value-for-money analysis on its so-called investment in the AIIB?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, let me say what value for money is. Value for money is the government's investments in supporting Canadian businesses and Canadian workers. Our wage subsidy program alone has supported more than 5.3 million jobs—

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The hon. member.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, does the government have any analysis of how its investment in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank promotes Canada's national interest, including our commitment to a clean environment, human rights and gender equality?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, let me say how delighted I am to hear the Conservatives supporting gender rights and a clean environment. I really hope we will see them supporting this budget, which is a feminist budget and makes unprecedented investments in a green transition.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, I will just make one statement. This has been the most disappointing session of Parliament I have ever been involved in. I have asked the minister numerous questions. She has not answered one. There is no transparency and no specificity. The least she could have done is say that she does not know the answer to these questions but she would get back to me. She did not even have the courtesy of doing that. I am profoundly disappointed. I know the minister is better than that. I have great respect for her, but for her to fail to answer any of the questions I have put to her, including the fate of the two Michaels and the conditions that have been imposed on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank investments by the current Liberal government, I find that to be—

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The hon. minister.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, I too have great respect for the member opposite. I was his critic when he was trade minister.

Let me say what I am disappointed by. I am disappointed by this faux concern for clean investment and a gender-based budget analysis. I am really disappointed by an unwillingness to tell Canadians the truth about our budget, which is that it makes unprecedented and essential investments in Canada's long-term growth.