Conservatives come to AG's defence after Liberal minister suggests benefit report was politically influenced
National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier is facing calls from Conservatives to apologize for suggesting that Tuesday's auditor general report indicating that billions of dollars in COVID-19 benefits went to those who were ineligible was influenced by political pressure.
On Tuesday, auditor general Karen Hogan tabled a report raising alarms that, of the $211 billion the federal government sent out to Canadians and companies during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, at least $4.6 billion in overpayments went to those who were ineligible, and another $27.4 billion merited further investigation.
While Hogan concluded that overall the federal government effectively delivered the emergency aid and staved off further economic harm, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Employment and Social Development Canada are "falling short" and running out of time when it comes to following through on verifying recipients' eligibility and trying to claw back funds.
Facing multiple questions on the audit's findings during question period on Tuesday, Lebouthillier — the minister responsible for the CRA — said that the federal revenue agency doesn't agree with some of the audit's findings.
Taking issue specifically with how Hogan calculated eligibility for the wage subsidy program and flagged that $15.5 billion paid out may have gone to ineligible employers, Lebouthillier said the auditor general's figure was "exaggerated."
"This is not the auditor general's fault," the minister said in French. "We all know that she was pressured by the opposition to produce this report. Political games notwithstanding, let us not forget that the wage subsidy saved the economy."
This prompted the Conservatives to pivot their line of questioning. Seizing on her remark, the Official Opposition came to Hogan's defence, demanding that the minister apologize rather than continuing to pepper the Liberals with questions about what they plan to do to recoup the benefit money, some of which the Conservatives supported being sent to Canadians amid the global health crisis.
"The auditor general is an incredibly critical part of our democracy. When an individual calls the auditor general's integrity into question, which happened just now in the House, it is an attack on our democracy," said Conservative MP Philip Lawrence. "Will the minister apologize?"
On it went, first with the minister stating that she wouldn't apologize, then with her doubling down with her "pressured" line.
In another question, Conservative MP Luc Berthold pointed out that it was Parliament, not the opposition, that asked the auditor general to dive into the federal government's pandemic spending, the latest in a series of COVID-19-focused performance reports in line with Hogan’s mandate as an officer of Parliament.
"However, today in the House, the minister of national revenue had the nerve to hide her incompetence at managing the crisis by throwing accusations at the auditor general of Canada and questioning her integrity. There is just one thing left for the minister to do, and that is to stand up and apologize to the House," he said.
To this, the minister replied that she had "total confidence" in the auditor general and that Hogan has her "utmost respect," but she did not apologize.
The parliamentary drama poured over into a House of Commons Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday afternoon, where Hogan was asked to respond to Lebouthillier's question period comments.
Hogan told the committee that she stood by her findings, and pointed out the legislation that implemented the program with rapid payouts and limited pre-payment verification, included a requirement for her office to conduct an audit after the fact.
"Our audit work is very rigorous," Hogan said. "We based our work on really the limited information that was available at the Canada Revenue Agency, because very little was collected on application. We could only look at what information was available, and we believe that we looked at the best information available and came to the best conclusions."
On her way into a Liberal caucus meeting on Wednesday morning, Lebouthillier was asked to explain her comments.
In French she said that while she doesn’t necessarily agree with the figures put forward in the COVID-19 benefit report, she has enormous respect for the auditor general and for the independence of her office. The minister did not apologize for suggesting Hogan’s work was politically motivated.
The minister faced a few more questions on the matter during question period on Wednesday. Following this, the House of Commons—on the prompting of Bloc Quebecois MP Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagne—made the point of reaffirming its “full trust in the auditor general and the importance of her independent work.”
Unanimously agreeing to the Bloc motion, MPs agreed that the information the office provides to parliamentarians is of “quality.”
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Local Spotlight
Fergus, Ont. man feels nickel-and-dimed for $0.05 property tax bill
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
'I'm committed': Oilers fan won't cut hair until Stanley Cup comes to Edmonton
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
'It's not my father's body!' Wrong man sent home after death on family vacation in Cuba
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
'Once is too many times': Education assistants facing rising violence in classrooms
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
What is capital gains tax? How is it going to affect the economy and the younger generations?
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
UBC football star turning heads in lead up to NFL draft
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.
Cat found at Pearson airport 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.