Mr. Speaker, the documents attached to the last federal budget mention that transfers to the provinces will be cut by $2.5 billion in 1996-97 and $4.5 billion in 1997-98. In 1997-98, if the federal government distributes the Canada social transfer on the basis of population, as suggested on page 40 of the federal budget speech, Quebec alone will absorb over 40 per cent of the $4.5 billion in cuts.
Does the Prime Minister not agree that, on the eve of the referendum, he has a duty to stop hiding his intentions from Quebecers by disclosing publicly how the federal government intends to distribute among the provinces the $4.5 billion in cuts planned for 1997-98, so that Quebecers will know the real impact of federal policies?