Mr. Speaker, we have come through a very difficult time but finally we have balanced the books and we are now starting to pay down our debt. This is due in large measure to the fact that we have adopted a policy of pay as you go combined with total openness and transparency so Canadians can understand exactly where we are. This is why we will continue to hold ourselves to the most rigorous possible standard of openness and transparency. This is our policy.
In the House of Commons on March 19th, 1998. See this statement in context.