Finance committee  So as we potentially adjust on the program spending restraint annually, what comes to mind are the principles the U.K. brought forward. Now the U.K. is undertaking a far, far more severe austerity program, but they kept returning to the principles of equity and reform, ensuring that a strong base was laid for longer-term growth. With respect to the last principle, we would endorse that you stay the track on the corporate tax reduction cuts that are planned.

Sustaining Canada's Economic Recovery Act  We have since learned that South Korea will be spending 2% of what Canada spent on security, only $25 million. We also saw outrageous, lavish and unjustifiable spending in a time of austerity and restraint, on items such as $200 million on hotel bills, car rentals, bug spray, lunch boxes, cell phones and parking; $300,000 on bug spray, hand sanitizer and sunscreen; 22,000 bottles of sunscreen, 33,000 bottles of bug spray and 111 bottles of hand sanitizers, all for one day in Deerhurst.

Finance committee  The slowdown in growth is also taking place at the same time as governments are considering the end of fiscal stimulus programs and the implementation of austerity measures to reduce budgetary deficits. There are significant policy trade-offs and risks. Policy makers need to steer a policy course between short-term support for a fragile economic recovery, on the one hand, and the avoidance of a buildup of public debt that will burden future generations on the other.

Finance committee  You will each have five minutes for an opening statement, and we'll proceed in that order. I just want to point out that the austerity measures have begun early, because we don't have that many lights in the room. That is on orders from Minister Flaherty to start saving some money. We're trying to rectify that matter as quickly as possible.

Public Safety committee  Obviously the statistics tell the whole story here in my mind that these are underused border crossings, if in a 24-hour period we have the kinds of numbers we're talking about. I just want to commend you, actually, in this time of fiscal restraint and austerity, for taking the view to recommend that we do change and restructure things to be more efficient. I think this is what Canadians expect of us, actually, to look at underused resources and to reallocate where it makes sense and where these border crossings are in proximity to other close border crossings that can be utilized.

Finance committee  In these circumstances, it is the CSN's view that the government should continue to use all the levers at its disposal to support economic growth. Launching into a policy of fiscal austerity and deficit fighting when the recovery is so tenuous would be ill-advised, particularly since Canada still has appreciable fiscal leeway relative to the other developed countries. While most developed countries have understood that higher taxes will be necessary in order to put their public finances in order, Canada is artificially increasing its budget deficits by continuing to grant lower taxes to businesses.

Industry committee  In Botswana, which for many years has been the poster child of the ARV rollout on the African continent, two years ago the president publicly stated that continued enrolment of new patients in treatment must be guaranteed beyond 2016, because it's possible treatment can be sustainable. In this time of financial austerity, it's really crucial that we take every measure possible to reduce the cost associated with HIV programs, and one of the most critical opportunities to navigate this cost is in the area of drug procurement.

Finance committee  Chairman, we are well aware that the Government of Canada is running a large deficit and that budget 2010 announced austerity measures for the years ahead. Nevertheless, we urge the committee to take a long-term view of Canada's fiscal condition. As our recommendations to you indicate, CMA Canada believes that the focus should be on long-term outcomes that will benefit Canadians.

Business of Supply  This non-essential spending spree has cost taxpayers cumulatively $1.2 billion and comes at a time when government is preaching austerity and the tightening of our belts. This is pure hypocrisy, as is using the Canada jet to fly to a photo op in London, Ontario, at a doughnut chain to announce freezes, cutbacks and rollbacks.

Business of Supply  The government, with much fanfare, held a press conference and announced the elimination of these positions as proof of its austerity, of its dedication to eliminating waste. Yet we heard just moments ago a Conservative member attack a debate about the tens of millions of dollars being wasted through these partisan mailings, but it is not just these mailings.

The Economy  The Bank of Canada itself is warning that things are worse than the finance minister claimed just last week in his economic update. The PBO now confirms that the government's obsession with tax cuts and austerity plans just will not work. This is no time to declare mission accomplished. Will the government finally get serious about a middle-class recovery and start creating jobs?

Finance committee  What they have supported, and I think a number of us here have as well, are investment tax credits, because then not just the profitable corporations can benefit from those, but also companies who are going to invest in the economy in that way. That's what we really need in Canada. I think you'd agree that the whole austerity agenda has been misguided. I think we've seen that six months after the spring budgets. I think the overriding concern that a lot of people have had is not so much the immediate deficits that we have now, but the deficits into the future and the potential cost of aging, because obviously when you are preparing an annual budget you are looking into the future as well.

Finance committee  In a nutshell, our pitch would be that there is a case for continuing investment in effective job creation programs in the next budget rather than a premature turn to fiscal austerity. The Government of Canada today can borrow under 10-year bonds for well under 3%. There are a lot of public investment projects, from infrastructure to investment and training, to education, that could more than cover an interest rate of under 3% for long-term borrowing.

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  While he is freezing other budgets, the Prime Minister's personal budget is increasing. If the Conservatives were really interested in austerity, does the member not think that those would be the kinds of things that should be ended?

Criminal Records Act Review  I would strongly encourage the government to take a look at this McNeil decision and introduce in this House changes to reverse it. In times of fiscal austerity and a significant difference between the job that our RCMP has to do and the resources it has, now it is being forced to pour huge amounts of money into large administrative costs that are not necessary in terms of being able to deliver the justice and protection that the Canadian public needs.