I'm comparing the government's approach, for instance, to the OAS, where ostensibly it's a demographic issue that is rendering OAS in its current form unsustainable, according to the government's arguments. We have a demographic-based sustainability issue, I would posit, in terms of health care. I'm just asking, is there some discussion within the machinery of government on how to address this?
This is a very significant issue. I'm certain that if the government were to sit down with the provinces and have this discussion it would be an important one. Again, all power to Alberta with the ability to have a 7% increase, but for some provinces, particularly those provinces with a declining or stagnant population growth, an aging population, and a resultant lower tax base and higher health care costs, the demographic issue is a very important part of the public policy dialogue we ought to be having.
I'm just asking the question, is there a discourse within government on this?