Thank you. What you have to say is quite interesting. A lot of the things that you like the government to do are primarily the responsibility of the provinces. You spoke of parks, schools, roads, urban planing. Those are all areas of provincial and municipal jurisdiction, and we represent the federal government.
We know that for a number of years, Liberal government transfers to the provinces where dramatically reduced. We do not know how the new agreement will manage to set things right. I hope there will be an agreement on fiscal unbalance, because infrastructures are deteriorating and children are being denied access to certain activities, even in their school yard. In Montreal, a study was done on the deteriorating equipment in playgrounds that are no longer set for children.
Mr. Steeves, you said that you were satisfied with the $500 tax credit. But that only represents $78 per individual or child. That is no way near enough to have any significant impact on obesity. We know that the lack of physical activity costs the government $5.3 billion, which represents 2.6 per cent of our health cost. Expenditures related to obesity represent 2.2 per cent of health cost in Canada. That means that it costs the government $4.3 billion to make up the shortfall. The tax credit has been roundly criticized. Who will be entitled to receive it, and what type of activity will be eligible? There are so many questions one could ask. A report has been published.
I would like your opinion on the tax credit and on it effectiveness. The disadvantaged communities are the ones that are hit the hardest. Can those people really afford to pay $500 for a $78 credit?