Mr. Speaker, in the government's plan for deficit reduction one of the objects is to reduce the transfer payments to provinces. The minister knows the consequences of doing that.
First of all, we offload part of the federal deficit problem on the provinces. Second, by removing funding from the provinces in terms of transfers without easing the obligation in terms of funding services, we create a problem for the provinces.
Will the minister deal with that question in full co-operation and full discussion with the provinces so that the provinces know what the actions of the federal government will be? They could therefore plan on a longer term basis their deficit reduction programs in co-operation with the federal government.