It should have actually done what it had promised to do: sit down at a table, as was done in 2003-3004, where it would have negotiated an agreement with the provinces concerning financial needs. There are things the provinces want regarding those financial needs. They want to know in the long term, in 5, or 10, or 15 years, what the federal government's contribution will be. It is now about 20% of total health care costs. Some people would like to see that rise to 25%, of course, but a majority agree on 20%.
In addition, there is the question of priorities: where are we going when it comes to health care? Ms. McLeod talked about Canada's position at the global level. I could tell her that we won the gold medal for emergency room visits: 58% of Canadians have to go to an emergency room to get primary health care, because they have no other choice. To Mr. Jean, I would say that this concerns young families, because there are no community health centres or primary health care centres in our communities.
I mentioned the costs of pharmaceuticals; we also have to talk about home care. Our seniors who are in good health, people who are 65 years old and healthy today: where are they going to go?