“I have asked four times about the government's spending targets and got no answer. An economist warned today that governments are avoiding tough choices to prepare for the future. For the fifth time, will the government meet targets to lower the deficit and debt in tomorrow's budget?”

“Mr. Speaker, four times I have asked a question about the government’s fiscal targets and four times there has been no answer. Here is why the question is important. Here is what economist Christopher Ragan said in today’s Globe: ...our governments are suffering from “fiscal complacency.”... They are doing what is easy and painless in the short run, but avoiding the tougher decisions that would better prepare them for an uncertain and risk-filled future. For the fifth time, will the Prime Minister and the government meet fiscal targets to reduce the deficit and debt in tomorrow’s budget?”

“The Prime Minister says Canada must prepare for future crises, including war. But the government's rising debt and interest payments leave us unable to handle them. I want to know if the government will hit its fiscal targets in tomorrow's budget.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister’s new national security framework states that Canada needs to “Prepare for all contingencies up to and including war and other worst-case scenarios.” It puts economic security at the heart of that plan. Canada had the fiscal capacity to deal with the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic, but the government’s rising debt and interest are reducing the capacity of the federal government to deal with the future crisis that the Prime Minister says is coming in his upcoming framework. For the sixth time, will the government hit its fiscal targets in tomorrow’s budget?”