Mr. Speaker, today the provincial finance ministers are meeting with the federal finance minister to discuss the federal budget.
At least half the provincial finance ministers are doing a better job at balancing their budgets than the federal government. One of their greatest concerns is that the federal government will simply offload its own debt problem on the backs of the provinces, particularly those that have managed their finances efficiently.
My question is for the Prime Minister. What assurances could he give to fiscally responsible provinces that their reward is not simply going to be an offloading of the federal debt?