It's hard for us to answer that kind of question because here we're talking about intergovernmental redistribution mechanisms, respective commitments, and so on. Unless I'm mistaken, you're saying that the amounts allocated to the provincial governments aren't being used as planned. I'm not part of the provincial government.
However—if you'll allow me one minute—I know that the provincial government is of course the one that's closest to social services and the public—that's normal. Theoretically, it's the one that's most involved in examining needs and all that. So it invests a lot in social organizations—I'm talking about Quebec—with the help of organizations like the United Way and other private foundations.
Nevertheless, that's not enough to really help people get back on their feet, to emerge from poverty and to be active in society. Who will be the one that pays the most? The provincial government, the federal government or both? As a taxpayer and United Way worker, I think it's both.
We sent the same message to the provincial government as the one I want to give you today, which is that you should invest more in community services to help poor people. You must give more money to those organizations.
I hope your colleagues who were in Calgary last week were just as impressed as I was to see hundreds of people from across the country who are involved in services, but who are exhausted. If those people stop being involved, the entire community will have a problem.
What's the problem? Does it concern intergovernmental responsibilities? I don't know. What I do know is that if we don't invest more in these organizations and help people restore their dignity and be active in their community, the entire society will be shooting itself in the foot, and we will all be responsible.
The community groups that were there last week and those that are part of our system—we fund only 180 in the Quebec City and Chaudière-Appalaches region—tell us that they don't have enough. They would like the two governments to do more, and that includes the federal government. Whether it's directly or through the provincial government, that's politics for me. What I'm saying is that the federal government and the provincial government must do more.
Earlier I cited the example of infrastructure, even though that was perhaps a bit specific. The two governments have invested in infrastructure to stimulate the economy. However, neither has invested in social and community services to stimulate the economy, whereas that's one extremely cost-effective investment from all standpoints, including economic.