Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister stated in Saskatoon Wednesday that the founda-
tions of the Canada Health Act were not negotiable. As it turns out however, the national forum on health, chaired by the Prime Minister himself, has a mandate to review this act without the full participation of the provinces.
The only legitimate players in the health field, namely the provinces, have been excluded from this process. The true meaning of the Prime Minister's "not negotiable" therefore becomes apparent.
Moreover, the last federal budget called for major budget cuts in transfer payments to the provinces. Again, this is not negotiable.
Are we to understand that this so-called flexible federalism means that nothing is negotiable? Transfer payments are cut, yet the provinces must comply with standards dictated by Ottawa. Now, they are being excluded from the national forum on health. And that is not negotiable either.