Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to the speech and was really interested in the feedback the member had from people in her riding. It is consistent with what I get from the people in my riding. I would like some clarification. In the last half of her speech the member went through her list pretty much in the same order of priorities as the finance minister did in the budget speech with debt repayment last. Yet if I heard correctly at the beginning of her speech she indicated that the highest priority of people in her riding was to reduce the debt. I think it was around 40% and that was the highest rate. I am wondering whether the member would confirm that I heard correctly.
I would also like to remind all members of the House that the debt reduction plan of the government is dismal indeed. In the document I received yesterday the net public debt every year from 1998 onward to the projection into the year 2001-02 is $576.8 billion, $576.8 billion, $576.8 billion, $576.8 billion, the same number four years in a row. There is no plan for debt reduction at all, except there is $3 billion in a contingency fund and if we do not find some place to spend it, yes, we will apply it to the debt.
I would like the hon. member's comments and clarification on what I think I heard.