Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, thank you for coming here today. I certainly appreciate your work on behalf of our great country.
I'd just like to start by saying that provinces are obviously in a much different state. You've tabled your second budget. Other provincial finance ministers, such as Finance Minister Ceci in Alberta, have tabled theirs. Alberta also has large deficits with no sign of returning back to balanced budgets. In fact, the return to balance has been kicked further down the road. He has received questions on whether or not the rating agencies are going to continue the AAA credit rating.
Given that you continue to say that it's in the country's interest to go into large deficits without any sign of when we will return to balance in the short, middle, or long terms, have you spoken to any of the credit agencies? Have they questioned you on the fiscal plan and whether or not Canada will still retain its AAA credit rating?