Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.
The Auditor General tabled his report today. In it he has pointed out that unless some real changes are made the federal debt, that is, the federal debt alone and not the national debt, will reach 100 per cent of the gross domestic product by the year 2008.
The Auditor General has red flagged the situation as being of serious concern. He has stated in his report: "Hard choices lie ahead".
The speech from the throne has focused on spending programs with no recognition of the serious fiscal situation facing this country.
Is the Minister of Finance now able to assure Canadians that deficit reduction is this country's number one priority rather than introducing more spending programs as we heard about yesterday?