MPs can ask the government questions during Oral Question Period every day in the House of Commons — and the odds are that they won't get much of an answer — or they can write it down. The government can take months to respond but, generally speaking, when it does respond, it will actually answer the question. Such is the case today with a question put to it by Liberal MP Rob Oliphant who asked:
With respect to government television commercials which promote Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSA): (a) why are financial advisors not included in the list of possible ways to open an TFSAs; (b) how much did it cost to produce these commercials and to air them; (c) how often are the commercials aired; and (d) will future commercials include a reference to financial advisors?
And here, tabled in the House of Commons this morning, is the answer, provided in writing by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty:
Mr. Speaker, the response is as follows:
a) The principle objective of the television commercials, which can be viewed at http://www.tfsa.gc.ca, was to provide Canadians with as much substantive information as possible about the TFSA in a relatively short period of time. Commercials were approximately 30 seconds in length. The commercials encouraged Canadians to contact their “bank, credit union or other financial service provider to open an account today or visit tfsa.gc.ca for more information”. The ‘More Information’ portion of tsfa.gc.ca, which can be viewed at http://www.tfsa.gc.ca/moreinfo-eng.html, makes explicit reference to financial advisors in the list of possible ways to open a TFSA: “Visit your bank, credit union, financial service provider, advisor or planner for more information and to open an account today”.
b) The cost of the television commercials was approximately $3 million. This included production costs and the charges for airing the commercials in both official languages across Canada.
c) The television commercials commenced airing on January 5, 2009 and ended on February 2, 2009. The frequency of the commercials being aired varied by market size and location.
d) No future television commercials to promote the TFSA are planned at present.
Is there an on-line repository of written questions asked, with corresponding answers (like we have Hansard for QP)?
Hi Two Hats — update and response to your query.
Thanks!