Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has raised a couple of questions.
With respect to the nature of the obligations of the Government of Canada, it is one thing to have a separate fund when it is in a surplus, and it is another thing to have it separate when it is in a deficit.
If the hon. member is suggesting that when the fund is in a deficit position which would ordinarily occur in a recession, premiums would have to rise to make it self-sustaining. I think that would be very counterproductive.
As far as the upper limit amount of the surplus, I think everyone recognizes it is a question which has to be addressed. We have historical data demonstrating what happens when there is a downturn in the economy. We have only had a situation for the past few months where the fund has been a real surplus position.
I have no doubt that the Minister of Finance, myself and other members of the government will deal with this problem in an appropriate way at an appropriate time.