Mr. Speaker, my comment relates to my earlier intervention. I did ask the member who spoke just prior to this member some questions about the farm economy. The bill in fact addresses the farm economy quite significantly. Whether or not members of this House are from farm constituencies, they have an obligation to understand the implications of legislation on all Canadians regardless of where they live.
I would have thought that a bill that has such substantial impact on rural Canada would be something that all members of the Chamber would be able to address. It seems to me that we as MPs have an obligation to Canadians as well as our own constituents.
The member indicates she is a member of the finance committee. Is she aware of any studies relating to the long term implications of this legislation on rural communities? Specifically where will the investment to replace the lost income come from to ensure that these communities are able to continue to exist?
Keeping in mind what I said earlier, in my constituency alone income that presently exists, up to some $40 million a year will be lost as a result of this bill, all from rural communities. A considerable investment will have to be made in order to make that up.
My other question deals with the health care part of the bill. The member will recall that earlier this week the Canadian Hospital Association expressed what it said amounts to a call to arms against the plans in this bill for health care. Essentially the Canadian Hospital Association president said that the reluctance of the federal government to match its moral commitment with a financial commitment is inexplicable.
Can the member of the finance committee explain what has happened to the federal government's fiscal commitment to health care?