Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will admit that the reason for the increase in the debt is not the target we have set but is the accumulation of the debt that we have inherited.
Whether it is this target or whether it is a target set by the Reform Party, a tail would exist. We have said very clearly that the 3 per cent target is an interim target.
Interim means interim. We have set a series of short term goals to make sure that we do not make the mistake of the previous government, which was to have longer term goals and allow people to postpone the day of decision.
We have set short term mileposts and we are going to hit them. We are going to continue to hit them until the finances of the country are put in a healthy state.