Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.
Before I ask my next question to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, I want to make a couple of statements because deflation seems to be a bit of a topic today.
If I recall correctly—because I was part of all of the meetings as COVID started—a number of economists indicated that deflation could be an issue, but no one could know because the pandemic was so unprecedented. I wanted that on the record.
I also wanted to indicate that a lot of concern was raised by a number of our witnesses last year that the suite of supports we offered would be stronger and more effective than what was offered in 2008 under the Harper government. There was a strong desire to make sure that we tied workers more closely to their jobs and their employers, and that the supports would be generous enough to provide a strong foundation from which companies would be able to pivot as our economy tries to come out of COVID.
I also want to put on the record that former Bank of Canada Governor Poloz did indicate that government spending—and I think this was just over the last week or two, on November 28—and stimulus are not to blame for increased inflation. I just want to make sure that we continue to counter the false narrative that the Conservatives are proposing.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, we've been talking quite a bit about Canada's economic future, and you have been an absolutely ardent champion of national child care. We often talk quite a bit about the social good that comes from such a program, but I wonder if you could elaborate on the positive economic impacts of such a program that we're trying to put into place.