Mr. Speaker, the International Monetary Fund has just announced that it anticipates unparalleled economic growth for Canada in the next few years.
The Fund's director said, and I quote: "There is a very solid base, not only for rapid growth this year, perhaps the strongest among industrialized countries, but for a solid and healthy performance for many years to come".
In recent months, a great many analysts have observed with satisfaction that the annual inflation rate in Canada is 2 per cent. Short term interest rates are lower than in the United States and the Canadian deficit is shrinking.
This astonishing economic outlook is no accident. It is the direct result of our policies and of our responsible management of the public purse.