Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. This area is both old and new in Canadian politics, that is to say, how do we transfer money to the provinces?
Essentially the federal government's strategy since the mid-1960s has been to have a program called the Canada assistance plan. It allows the provinces to access money freely if they fulfil certain federal conditions. In the 1977 EPF program, we said to the provinces that they would have block funding for post-secondary education and health as long as they conformed to the Canada Health Act.
In several discussions going back to the early 1980s the provinces have been asking for greater flexibility in the Canada assistance plan to enable them to design more innovative social programs. At the same time there is the feeling at the national level by many national interest groups that as one moves about the country support for post-secondary education is varied. The types of services available under the Canada assistance plan are varied.
We have said to let us go back to the first principles. Let us move toward a way in which we can give the provinces a wider range of flexibility through social transfers. At the same time, as a national government we have to make sure we are true to the principles we want as a Liberal government. Through the budget consultations which normally take place when the budget laws are introduced, we will have an opportunity to discuss it. I am sure the ministers of finance and social policy as well as the prime minister will want to talk about it.