Finance committee  Deliberative dialogue is different from focus groups. In the brief I gave, there were examples of dialogues that really are an exchange. One of the striking things about these dialogues and the evaluations is that people come in thinking they can't find anything to agree with, wi

Finance committee  No. They're just by value, by objective.

Finance committee  I highlighted four or five, I think, in my speaking notes. I think a lot of different groups are calling for the poverty reduction strategy. At least let's recognize that poverty is a problem and set some targets regarding poverty.

Finance committee  I think certainly greenhouse gas emission reduction is another one. Canadians care about it. They're looking for leadership and action from the government, and that's a win-win for everybody.

Finance committee  I was just going to say that it relates to the question about what kind of child tax benefit the government is committed to provide to families. I know it's stalled around $3,300 to $3,400. A lot of groups are calling for that to be increased up to $5,000, to reflect the full cos

Finance committee  Do you want me to reply to that?

Finance committee  Can I have ten seconds?

Finance committee  Yes, you're right. It was inequitable and a proportion of it was clawed back. I think Elizabeth is more of an expert, so I'll defer to her, but my sense of the issue is that, first of all, as a parent—and I see there are other parents in the room—you know how far $1,200 a year go

Finance committee  I guess it depends on who you want to hear from. Do you want to hear from paid professionals who articulate arguments for their membership? I think that's important. Do you want to hear from community members? Do we, sitting at this table, represent Canadians? Do we? I don't thin

Finance committee  No. I'm saying, yes, listen to us—

Finance committee  Can I finish, please?

Finance committee  Okay. Let me finish. Yes, I think you want to hear from the paid professionals, because we have something to say--we've thought about the policies--but I think you also want to hear from diverse groups of Canadians, low-income Canadians, aboriginal people, people who are more di

Finance committee  Thank you. It's good to be here. Thank you for the opportunity. KAIROS is a national ecumenical social justice organization engaging in education and advocacy for social justice in Canada on behalf of its member churches, which include Anglican, Catholic, Christian Reform, Lut