Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It gives me the opportunity to tell residents of Edmonton in general and Edmonton Southwest specifically that the meeting at which we will be discussing this subject will take place on November 7 at 7.30 p.m. at the Royal West Edmonton Inn as part of our ongoing discussions and deliberations with constituents.
The hon. member mentioned dependence and consultation. Consultations must be more than a feel good, giant warm fuzzy smurf ball that we are throwing out and let us all hug it and think we are doing something.
There has to be a specific purpose to what we are doing. Before we can consult on the benefits of one program versus another, let us put some costs up front, let us attach some costs to it. Who in business would decide to go down plan a or plan b without first determining where plan a is starting and finishing? That is what is missing in the whole consultation review.
I have lived in the maritimes and have some considerable sympathy for what people have talked about in an area of the country considered to be chronically depressed. I do not think that is true. I do not think the maritimes are chronically depressed. As a matter of fact it is interesting to note that the Bank of Nova Scotia did not start in Toronto; it started in the maritimes. The wealth and power that existed in the maritimes for many years have gradually progressed eastward to Toronto and are concentrated in southern Ontario.
If I were a person living in the maritimes I would be on my feet screaming for a triple E Senate to give my region at least some power and say in the national decision making of the country. That fairness in the triple E Senate will go a lot further to putting the maritimes in a stronger financial position than all the equalization payments forever which have done nothing.