Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague across the way for his comments. I realize the role of the opposition is not to be positive about a budget, no matter how good it is. They are not standing and saying that we are back under a deficit, because we are not. They are not standing and saying that we are not paying down the national debt, because we clearly are. We are down on the national debt from 71.5% in 1996 to 44.5%, and the hon. member across the way should be congratulating us for that.
However my colleague in the corner knows that government is about making choices. I would ask my colleague just a quick math exercise. I give my colleague one dollar. I would like my colleague to tell me how he would spend that dollar in terms of all the issues he has raised. What portion would he put toward debt reduction? What portion would he put toward tax reduction? What portion would he put toward the military, the cities, the homeless and child poverty. The list goes on.
The fact is we have outlined clearly, as a government, where we are going. We have outlined clearly our spending priorities within a strong fiscal framework, and yet I do not hear from any opposition party any real credible alternatives. I hear a lot of rhetoric, I hear a lot of cheap shots, but I do not hear how they would spend it.
Fortunately my friend in the corner over there is a thoughtful individual, and I know he will respond by telling me how he would spend that dollar, because it is important. I certainly would like to know what the priorities would be of his party in terms of how that dollar would be spent, and I ask my friend to comment.