Thank you.
This might seem like a somewhat silly question, but I find it interesting that we're looking at our debt-to-GDP ratio. That's the measure we always use. Canada's in a very good position, especially compared with other countries. When you talk to the average Canadian or regular person in terms of that scenario, it's really hard to explain what that means and why Canada is seen as being in a very good position on that measurable.
My somewhat silly question is this. How would you explain, or how do you really talk about the debt-to-GDP ratio and what that means, to the average Canadian, in the sense of how most Canadians look at debt as something you want to pay off? That is your goal, to pay it off. As governments go, that's ultimately the goal as well, except that being in this low debt-to-GDP ratio is really a good scenario.
Is there a simplified way of how we explain this to Canadians in terms of Canada's current position, and why it is seen to be in such a good ratio, and why this ratio is seen as a positive element?
I ask that question. I say it might be silly in the sense that we talk about it very clearly here, but I find that when I go back to the riding and you say that statistic, well, what does that really mean?