Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, the annual payment to Newfoundland is some $8 million a year. It is to be made in perpetuity as part of the original Constitution.
Newfoundland is facing some exceptional and difficult fiscal and economic challenges with the fishery and with the phase down of Hibernia. It has been requested that the payment be moved forward and we have agreed. It covers an advance of some $50 million this year and further payments later on. It is a fair and reasonable substitute for the $8 million statutory requirement.