The Emergencies Act Committee has repeatedly been asking for transparency and documentation to back-up the Liberals decision to invoke the Emergencies Act with no luck.

Green stated during the meeting “So I’m going to put the question to you directly: What were the economic impacts of the occupation? And were they significant enough to meet the threshold of a threat to national security under Section 2 of the CSIS act?” said Green, referring to CSIS’s definition of threats to national security.

Freeland did not answer directly but honed in on Green’s comment about Canada’s reputation, saying the country’s reputation was key to a strong economy.

“Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner, as a reliable investment destination, as a country with peace, order and good government, as a country with stable and effective political institutions, these are some of the most precious things we have as an economy, and they are the foundation for our prosperity.”

Green responded “That’s not the question I asked you,” repeating his previous questions on economic impacts. “I’m not talking about pontification, I’m talking about facts here.”

Freeland replied “I don’t believe I’m pontificating”, “The economic impact was absolutely, clearly there.”

Canadian inflation currently stands at 6.8 per cent. This means that the loonie is losing nearly seven cents of purchasing power every 12 months. For a Canadian earning a median income of $55,700 per year, that translates to an annual inflationary loss of $3,787.60.

We are taking real and tangible steps to help get inflation under control and make life more affordable for Canadians.

And, in five parts, this is how we are going to do it. pic.twitter.com/zOvi72dCFg

— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) June 16, 2022

On the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian federal debt stood at $686 billion. That’s now ballooned to more than $1.1 trillion. Even after a sharp scale back in government spending for the 2022 budget, Canada is still spending well above pre-pandemic levels; this year’s $52.8 billion deficit represents $1,400 per Canadian in new debt

Government spending has been so massive, in fact, that the average Canadian was ultimately sitting on more cash than if a pandemic had never happened. Or, as the Bank of Canada put it, “extraordinary fiscal support more than offset (pandemic) income losses, so on balance, household income increased.”

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland speech on Government’s proposals to ease inflation. “Fiscal restraint” Freeland says, as she tables $7 billion in new measures. pic.twitter.com/cRJMNZTesE

— Canadian Riley (@TiaRileyCanada) June 17, 2022

“The five points I’ve spoken about today, respect for the central role of the Bank of Canada, investing in people, fiscal restraint, good jobs, and a new affordability plan will help sustain the robust recovery we’ve made from the COVID recession.”