Mr. Speaker, when it comes to some provinces, the government's attitude is now we see them and now we don't.
The federal government has been utterly indifferent to B.C.'s concerns on aboriginal issues and the mismanagement of the salmon fishery, and the Prime Minister's constitutional veto scheme ignores British Columbia completely. About the only time the government recognizes B.C. or Alberta is when it comes time to extract money. These western provinces are becoming increasingly alienated from Ottawa. That alienation will deepen when the human resources minister withholds $47 million from B.C. for introducing residency requirements for welfare.
What does the human resources minister really expect to accomplish by fining British Columbia for attempting to manage its welfare rolls more effectively?