Mr. Speaker, I found it a little hard to follow the question since Prince Edward Island is not one of the provinces that adopted the harmonized sales tax. One might argue that had they done so, they would have been re-elected.
I would like to take the opportunity to refer to the comments that were made by hon. members opposite with respect to compensation paid to the Atlantic provinces in order to make this transfer. Any time a transition is made on a very substantive policy issue, transition payments are often considered.
I point out to hon. members opposite that when the government moved to eliminate the transportation subsidy under the Western Grain Transportation Act, popularly known as the Crow rate, a full $1.6 billion was made available to western farmers in order to compensate them for this important transition. It was painful, there is no doubt about it. In the long term it is the correct policy, the best policy for the economy of Canada. It is the best policy for western Canada and the best policy for the western Canadian farmers who are making the adjustment. Never once did that party get up and criticize compensation being paid to western Canada.
How is it when another important change is made which is good for the economy of Canada and good for the economy of Atlantic Canada and has short term cost implications for the provinces involved that a one time transition payment is so offensive to that party? It sounds to me like the petty politics of regional envy.