Mr. Speaker, perhaps the best way to answer the hon. member's question is to cite an economist of great reputation whom I am sure the hon. member knows, Carl Weinberg from High Frequency Economics.
In referring both to the IMF and to the kind of measures recommended by the hon. member, he says that the hon. member's advice is geared toward a country that cannot meet its bills or obligations, that is facing all kinds of international actions to try to withdraw money from it. He then goes on to say, showing far greater confidence than the members of the Reform Party, that Canada "is not in that case and therefore should not be subject to those kinds of measures. I think those measures would succeed in bringing the deficit down but with catastrophic economic consequences. I do not think it is warranted to take that kind of extreme action". That is his opinion, that is our opinion, and it is an intelligent opinion.