Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I just want to reiterate some of the things my colleagues have been saying. It seems to me that this amendment would do what the government is asking to do to meet its obligations for the commitments it's already made. What it wouldn't do is create that $300-billion cushion that the government is looking for, and it seems to me that would be like putting the cart before the horse. We were told earlier today by the Deputy Prime Minister that we can expect the budget on April 19. Once that budget is presented, if there needs to be an increase in borrowing authority at that time, it would make a lot more sense to me that the request come through the budget process and be coupled with the budget as presented on April 19.
This amendment would also actually support the concerns of both the Bloc and the NDP that the revenue aspect in our finances has not been addressed at all. If we wait until April 19, we may realize that the increase that is being asked for in this current bill is not warranted and that what we're presenting as an amendment is probably just fine and might even be excessive once the government, as Ms. Dzerowicz says, addresses the revenue side.