Thank you, Madam Chair.
Minister, the Parliamentary Budget Officer just released a memo saying that if the government meets the NATO defence spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035-36, including your budgets, Canada's debt-to-GDP ratio will have increased by 6.3% and Canada's deficit will have increased by $60 billion. You won't find that in your notes; it's just been published. Your government is committed to doing that.
First of all, do you think it's realistic to increase the federal debt-to-GDP ratio by 6% or 7% over the next few years?
Then, if your government has committed to meeting those targets and spending like that, why are you cutting your budgets by 15%? How do you reconcile those two decisions? Do you think that's consistent?
Do you think it's easy to understand for members of the public and veterans, as well as new Canadian Forces members? Do you think your government is consistent in its message today?