Thank you.
Premier, I thank you for being here and congratulate you for being here to represent your people.
As a Nova Scotian, I am to no end offended by our premier not having taken the opportunity to address Parliament, through the committee, about the insult of the Atlantic Accord in this budget. The promise was made on the Atlantic Accord that it was above and beyond any other program and that it was until 2012 and then renewable for another eight years. Now that it has become an either/or program, I think it's a great offence. I wish our premier had the courage that you show in representing your people here today.
I hear that another accord is being negotiated for Nova Scotia. I don't agree with it. I wish the Prime Minister would maintain his promise and keep the accord. Each and every year--until 2012 apparently--the province will be able to choose whether it goes into the new equalization formula or accepts the accord. If ever it accepts the equalization, it loses the accord forever. I think that is an insult.
It is a slight improvement. It was negotiated by three MPs from Nova Scotia. The Conservatives hold three out of 11 seats. In your province, I understand the Conservatives own 12 out of 14 seats. That's 12 out of 14. They must be able to negotiate a lot better than that. Exactly what are they negotiating? Do you know?