Speech (House debate)

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{
    "time": "2005-06-22 21:25:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mr. Pierre Paquette",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p>Mr. Speaker, that is a very good question. When we read the bill we see that there are a great many \u201cifs\u201d and \u201cmaybes\u201d. First, there needs to be a $2 billion surplus every year. We know there will be one since the Minister of Finance has constantly underestimated the surpluses.</p>\n<p>Nonetheless, if the Liberals did not want to give the money because it did not suit them to do so for one reason or another, they could change their mind\u2014we know what they are like. That said, if they just spent money on other programs they could end up with a $2 billion surplus without having to say a word about keeping their promises.</p>\n<p>The Comptroller General was asked whether this bill was binding. The answer was no. It is a line of credit the federal government has opened to spend the maximum in every sector. Take international aid for example. The maximum is $500 million. There is no guarantee this money will be spent.</p>\n<p>I think we should have had\u2014in fact this was suggested in the Standing Committee on Finance\u2014a much more cohesive bill. The haste of drafting <a href=\"/bills/996/\" class=\"related_link legislation\" title=\"An Act to authorize the Minister of Finance to make certain payments\">Bill C-48</a> just to form a political alliance is probably what made it so vague. It leaves the Liberal Party of Canada and current government with a lot of elbow room.</p>",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "url": "/debates/2005/6/22/pierre-paquette-3/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/pierre-paquette/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/1781/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "",
    "h1": {
        "en": "Government Orders",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "h2": {
        "en": "An Act to Authorize the Minister of Finance to Make Certain Payments",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "document_url": "/debates/2005/6/22/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fdebates%2F2005%2F6%2F22%2F"
    }
}