Mr. Speaker, defending the status quo, whether it is federalism or the fiscal situation, will not reduce the deficit. If the government intends to meet its deficit targets it has one of two choices. Either it cuts spending more deeply or it increases revenue through tax increases.
I ask the Prime Minister if he is clearly prepared to make additional spending reductions to control the deficit and does this mean that the government is considering additional tax increases as the only other way of meeting those targets?