Mr. Speaker, first I want to congratulate my friend for bringing in Bill C-375. I will say from the very outset that I was pleased when I saw this bill on the order paper. I think it is indicative of the kind of debate we need to have in the House.
I have listened carefully to my colleagues. While I support the bill, I wish it was votable. I think it is an important gesture, but I do have some serious concerns. However, I support the bill in principle. I realize this is sort of an opening round of debate and I suspect that we will have this debate in the months ahead in a variety of venues.
First, in terms of the legislation itself, it talks about a balanced budget in any particular fiscal year, with some exceptions, and these exceptions are identified. I appreciate my friend in the Bloc saying that a national catastrophe having a major impact on revenues or expenses would be an exception. Unfortunately, we have seen that reality in the last while in Canada, in terms of the ice storm calamity, in terms of the floods, both in central Canada and in western Canada and—