Mr. Chair, I'd like to inform you that I'll be sharing my time with the hon. member for Joliette.
Last week, the government offered the provinces transfers worth $14 billion to help them overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to prepare for recovery.
The provinces immediately responded that it was nowhere near enough, but also that the money was being paid for areas under provincial jurisdiction. The federal government did not deny that the areas were indeed under provincial jurisdiction. However, it played armchair quarterback by imposing conditions on these transfers.
It's the provinces and Quebec that are on the front lines. It's the provinces and Quebec that know their needs. It's the provinces and Quebec that set their priorities. Why would the federal government not simply give this money to the provinces and trust them?