Finance MPs to hold marathon hearings ahead of federal budget

Members of Parliament voted today to hold four days of intense pre-budget consultation meetings, conceding a degree of urgency tohearing from the public ahead of the new Liberal government's first federal budget.

The finance committee agreed to hear from "roughly" 89 witnessesover a period of four days from Feb. 16to 19, when MPs return to Ottawa after spending the second week of February in their ridings.

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In the past, the finance committee would have held a number of meetings over the course of several weeks beginning in September.

But this year, thecommittee's work was delayed in part due to thetiming of the last general election and some procedural disagreement withthe Bloc Qubcois.

"Look, we're running out of time as it comes tothe budget soon being prepared," said Liberal MP Wayne Easter, who was elected chair of the finance committee."We're rapidly running out of time."

"We need to giddy-up," said Conservative MP Phil McColeman, echoing Easter's remarks on Thursday.

The decision to hold marathon hearings comes as the Liberals are under increasing pressure from the Official Opposition, as well as the country's mayors and premiers, to deliver on spending promises they made during the recent election campaign.

"We'll go around the clock," said Opposition finance critic Lisa Raittas shepressedtheLiberals for a budget date.

Liberals to table budget 'expeditiously'

While Finance Minister BillMorneauhas yet to say when the Liberal government will deliver its first budget, it is widely expected to be tabled sometime in March.

But with the House of Commons scheduled to sit for only two weeks in March, the government will have a small window to do so.

We will get to the budget as expeditiously as we can, recognizing ourchallenging economicenvironment.Bill Morneau, finance minister

"We will get to the budget as expeditiously as we can, recognizing ourchallenging economic environment," Morneau said during question period today.

Morneau and othersenior government officials will be amongthe dozens of witnesses called to testify when the pre-budget marathon hearings get underway.

The finance minister said the government has received some 3,500 submissions from Canadians, including various organizations and other interestgroups.

The committee also elected Conservative RonLiepertand NDP MP GuyCaronasvice-chairs.

The House of Commons is scheduled to sitthe weeks of March 7 and March 21.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in Washington on March 10 for a state dinner with U.S. President Barack Obama the first White House state dinner in 19 years for a Canadian leader.

Surplus squabble

9 years ago

Duration 12:34

MPs Francois-Philippe Champagne, Lisa Raitt and Guy Caron debate the shape in which the Conservative government left Canada's finances.

Surplus or deficit?

Earlier in the day,Morneaudefended the government's balance sheet afterRaitttabled a motion calling on the Liberals to justify how they "plunged" Canadians into a $3-billion deficit after inheriting a $1-billion surplus fromthe previous Conservative government.

"Cherry picking data to use as a political football devalues the work of our proud public servants,"Morneautold the Commons Thursday morning.

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WhileMorneauacknowledged there was a surplus posted for a period of sixmonths in 2015, he attributed it to "one-time" factors such as the sale of General Motors shares.

Morneausaid the government'sfiscal update in November which was produced by the samepublic servants the Opposition and all MPs hold in such "high esteem"took into account the falling price of crude oil and a weak global economy.

"This non-partisan analysis confirms that circumstances had changed and that predictions made by the previous government in their budget were off by about $6 billion,"Morneausaid.

"Make no mistake,the government of Canada will post a deficit for the 2015-2016 fiscal year."

Raittaccused the Liberals of "intentionally" misleading Canadians.

"A return to surplus is not a licence to spend recklessly,"Raittsaid as she quoted the late finance minister JimFlaherty.

"I hope members of this government will reflect on what I've said and the words of JimFlaherty, and think twice next time when they rise in their seats and intentionally mislead the House on facts," she said.

The Liberals vowed during the election campaign to keep deficits under $10 billion each year for the first two years of their mandate a promise theybacked away fromafter taking office.