I remember also at the time there was some comment specifically from members opposite that perhaps the government paying down its debt was not the best use of its resources, and that perhaps we should be investing in programs--not in infrastructure--but in different programs and services. I wonder if you would agree that having paid down that $37 billion in advance, foreseeing that there was a world economic crisis pending, has also helped our financial position moving forward, and that forward thinking by the government has helped us prepare for this economic storm right now?
On April 21st, 2009. See this statement in context.