Minister, thank you very much for being here today. We appreciate your coming and presenting to us.
I'm going to read you a quote from what you said. It's on page 11, if you want to refer to it. You said:
Through the Canada health transfer administered by Finance Canada, the federal government provides long-term and predictable funding to support provincial and territorial health systems. Canada health transfers in 2011-12 will amount to $27 billion and will grow to an all-time high of $30 billion in 2013-14.
You are a former territorial health minister. What would having consistent and predictable funding mean to someone trying to operate a local health care system or a provincial or territorial health care system?