I cannot believe it, Madam Speaker. People must know that, in the 1970s, when the federal government and the provinces entered into an agreement providing for equalization payments for health, the federal government unilaterally cut transfer payments to the provinces.
These transfers, per capita, were drastically cut year after year. More recently, billions of dollars were cut from transfer payments for health.
While the federal government kept the money paid by taxpayers in Quebec and the provinces, this money was not available to the provinces to provide health care and post-secondary education. That is a fact. And the consequences can now be seen from coast to coast.
Does the hon. member opposite not agree that the federal government abdicated its responsibility, diverted public funds and brought the provinces to their knees? It is time for a change.