Mr. Speaker, the member as well as the member for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar referred to a surplus approaching some $100 billion. The members will well know that is a projected surplus over the next five fiscal periods assuming no negative economic changes.
The economic and fiscal update shows that the surplus for the last fiscal year reported on was $2.9 billion. It is estimated to be $2 billion for the next fiscal year and $5.5 billion for the year starting April 1, 2000 to March 31, 2001.
Given that we are talking about the upcoming budget and projecting for that year a $5.5 billion surplus, I would like to ask the member about the recommendation to reduce the GST by 1% which would cost almost $3.5 billion based on current revenue production. That means of the $5.5 billion, $3.5 billion is going to tax relief.
How does the member square that with his demands that there should be relief for prairie farmers, for health care, for post-secondary education and for children? The member cannot have it all ways. Is he suggesting that the government should be imprudent and go back into deficit financing?