Mr. Speaker, I am familiar with Michael Walker. I am familiar with the article the member mentioned to me. I was wondering at the time I read the article that although the deficit figures and all these targets were mentioned why the whole idea of this huge debt and the interest payments were not mentioned. That is the same question I have been asking all day.
Why are government members not talking about the debt? Why are they not talking about the interest payments on the debt which is growing far beyond what they ever thought it would?
They are very fortunate. So far things are working well in terms of being able to meet these targets. However, when we run into that kind of huge debt I really wonder if anybody has anything in place or any plans at all, including Michael Walker-and I would like to ask him one of these days when I see him-if all of a sudden there is a downturn for whatever reason. It could be caused by something south of the border which would cause interest rates to suddenly jump.
With a huge debt like this a downturn could be the very disaster we do not ever want to see. The only way to avoid that kind of disaster is to stop the debt from growing.
The government under its plan is continuing to let the debt grow. I cannot understand why any economist or anyone with more knowledge than I have, and believe you me there are plenty-