The Member of Parliament for Provencher says he is pleased to accept a new role on Parliament Hill.

Ted Falk has been appointed to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.

"Serving on the Finance Committee is a big job," says Falk. "It's one of those committees that tends to have a higher profile since it's all about the dollars and cents of government."

Falk says part of the mandate of this committee is to conduct pre-budget consultations. He notes they get briefed by department officials on the federal programs available. The 12 member committee made up of representatives from all parties, examines planned expenditures of the finance department and also the Canada Revenue Agency. They also review all the order and council appointments. According to Falk, he will also be responsible for reviewing the Minister of Finance economic and fiscal updates and consider proposed legislation that is before the House.

Falk says when he was informed of the appointment, he was told to be prepared to be very busy. He notes this committee probably meets more frequently than any other on Parliament Hill, and he anticipates doing a lot more travel across the country.

"So it could require me to be out of the constituency a little more," he says.

Falk says this committee was front and centre earlier this year during the hearings into the Liberal government's WE Charity scandal.

"They were in the middle of that study when the Prime Minister prorogued Parliament and that brought an abrupt end to that work that the committee was doing, to try and get to the bottom of why there was almost a billion dollars allocated to the WE Charity when the Prime Minister's family had benefited by half a million dollars through speaking engagements and travel and accommodations," he says. "So I'm thinking that the committee may want to pick up that work."

Falk says he was told that his experience as a small-business owner and his years of service as President and Board Chair for Steinbach Credit Union helped in the consideration for this appointment.

In addition to this new portfolio, for the next while he will continue to serve on the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians.

"I'm going to be doing double duty for the next three to six months," he says. "Which is fine, I'm looking forward to it, but I will be extremely busy."