That is correct, the Prime Minister was finance minister at that time.
Our Liberal colleagues opposite boast about their sound fiscal management and about extricating Canada from a very difficult budgetary situation. Our Liberal colleagues did not do this on their own. They did it by having the unemployed pay the deficit, by cutting benefits. They had sick people pay the deficit, by cutting health transfers. They had the provinces pay, by cutting equalization payments. They reduced it at the expense of the poorest, by cutting social transfers.
In the meantime, this government, which boasts about its sound management increases its operating expenses by 38%. All that we ask the federal government to do is manage the federal government and let the provinces manage their areas of jurisdiction. Let it mind its own business. That's not complicated.