Governments looking to provide inflation relief to Canadians should choose well-targeted and temporary measures, said Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem.

At a House of Commons committee meeting on Wednesday, Conservative MP Adam Chambers asked the governor about the two best options to offer relief without fueling inflation: direct transfers to low-income Canadians or energy relief packages.

In response, the governor said targeted and temporary measures feed inflation. Macklem also stated: "Policies aimed at mitigating the impact of inflation on citizens really need to be targeted, focused on the most vulnerable groups, and temporary, while this is an inflation problem."

Also, the federal government and provincial governments have responded to high inflation with measures aimed at easing the burden on Canadians' finances. While some measures targeted low-income earners, others were broad-based.

Similarly, the federal government recently temporarily doubled the GST tax credit, a benefit that goes to low- and modest-income Canadians. Provinces have also provided relief, with many choosing to send broader-ranging checks.

Most recently, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced a set of inflation relief measures, including $600 per child for families earning less than $180,000 per year.

Macklem, along with Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers, answered questions from parliamentarians on the standing finance committee in the House of Commons, where Bank of Canada officials faced questions about central bank policy decisions in the face of decades-high inflation.

In October, the annual inflation rate reached 6.9 percent, down from a peak of 8.1 percent in June.

Since March, the Bank of Canada has raised interest rates six consecutive times and is expected to announce another rate hike in December. The central bank aims to cool spending in the economy by raising borrowing costs for Canadians and businesses.

Additionally, a significant economic slowdown is expected on the horizon as high interest rates work their way through the economy. However, many economists remain cautiously optimistic that even if Canada enters a recession, it will be short-term.