Mr. Speaker, there are members in this House who have different levels of private wealth or income. I represent people who earn different levels of income. The ability to borrow, the kind of mortgage you can carry and afford depends on your income and wealth. It is the same with a country. That is why we have chosen to express our debt and deficit target in terms of the GNP, which is the wealth of the nation.
Obviously if you have an income of $100,000 you can afford a different kind of mortgage and can afford to borrow and pay more for a car than if you have an income of $20,000. It is that simple. That is why linking what is an appropriate target for reduction of debt and deficit to the GDP is a proper way of doing it.
I will answer the question, but not quite in the way I think the member wanted an answer. I believe very firmly that in large measure the debt and deficit have risen because of our declining level of employment in this country. It has been increased by major steps over several decades. Clearly if there are 10 people contributing to paying for a project, it is more expensive for each one of those 10 than if there are 20 people contributing to pay for the same project.