I think that's key. That's the key argument behind equalization-type programs, providing basic services at comparable levels across Canada.
To me, equal opportunity is putting people on the same playing ground to begin with, which means giving everybody an opportunity to develop their skills early in life. To hark back to the universality versus targeting, I think where universality is important is in achieving equal opportunity. Targeting is more important in dealing with the consequences of how people use that equal opportunity.
Most of the programs that deal with equal opportunity are actually provincial responsibilities. Yet, if you look at subsection 36(1) of the constitution, it says explicitly that the federal government and the provinces have joint responsibility for achieving equality of opportunity.