But, Mr. Speaker, with 24 Members you will have varying opinions in Caucus and in the House. I also agreed that we could balance the budget in one year, but I also realize that this might have meant more Draconian measures that this government would have had to take.

Mr. Todd says he will have a balanced budget in 1997-98, but we still can, over the next 18 months, continue to look for efficiency in our spending to help reach that target. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Todd's budget was bursting at the seams with optimism. That is a laudable way of approaching a deficit, Mr. Speaker; an accumulated deficit of stratospheric proportions.