Madam Speaker, on the subject of the cost of sovereignty, I have just mentioned that it cost the federal government hugely to retain its authority and to increase its powers in order to further centralize the government here in Ottawa. I explained this in my speech. I think the member for Edmonton Southwest failed to grasp the message I was trying to get across, despite its simplicity, in my view.
In other words, huge sums were spent all over the place without any thought to medium and long term benefits. Accordingly, the federal government spent huge sums to show people, and particularly Quebecers, its authority and to demonstrate how they could not live without it.
On the subject of the future, we are well aware that, as was explained during the referendum, it currently costs between $2.5 billion and $3 billion to manage duplication. These costs were calculated by experts and not by the Parti Quebecois or the Bloc Quebecois.
The experts are not calculating the value of the shortfall or inefficiency. However, it could be said that the inefficiency of this duplication, which is creating a lot of inconsistency in our programs and funding, might mean we are talking about a shortfall of $10 billion.
So if everyone looked after their own business, the provinces would have their full responsibilities in many areas, and the federal government would be a sort of overseer, as was intended in confederation. Initially, the federal government served simply as a sort of co-ordinator, and the provinces were autonomous. If we follow this management style, we might well survive. At the moment, however, the government does not appear to want to decentralize. It is just the opposite. Each time new rules are set or legislation is passed or amended in this House, the aim is always to give more power to the federal government and less to the provinces.
Clearly, it is not going to happen in a hurry, unless Quebecers decide once and for all to take over their responsibilities so that they can get out of the current economic slump.