Let me simply say then, in summary, we believe the public has a right to know, especially before the next federal election, what the government's plan is to pay down this monster deficit. They refuse to tell us, and you and other deputy ministers from other departments give us pretty much lofty platitudes. It reads like the preface to the total quality management book about excellence in management, etc., but it doesn't give us any clear idea.
I have to ask, were you advised to stonewall this committee in your deputy ministers' meetings? Is there some conspiracy of silence so that you are not allowed to divulge what you know about the government's plans to balance the budget and how they plan to find $57 billion?