Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister was very clear yesterday when he said that we really want to lower the deficit by reducing government spending. However, if we cannot reach our goal that way, we will definitely consider other alternatives, including tax measures. Again, I invite the hon. member to make constructive suggestions and I ask him this question: Does he really think that we will eliminate a $40-billion deficit merely by reducing the government's operating expenditures, which amount to $20 billion? The hon. member, who is an economist, should learn how to add.
In the House of Commons on October 20th, 1994. See this statement in context.