Mr. Speaker, first it is by no means clear that the description of any government's position is as described by the member. However, I would tell him that all of the provinces have come together and quite clearly there is going to have to be a package. When the package is put together it will imply trade-offs and we will have to see.
I can also say that the federal government is going to have to come to a compromise with the provinces. The federal government cannot act alone in this particular instance. However, the hon. member ought to know, in instances where the federal government could act alone, which is in the creation of a new seniors benefit, we not only maintained but we enhanced indexation.