Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to make one thing clear. The members of the Bloc Quebecois are fond of numbers games. They keep referring to cuts in the amount of $7 billion. I think that the member who spoke before me said these cuts were made in the Province of Quebec. I will try to settle this matter once and for all.
I have here the actual figures. In 1993-94, Quebec received $7.9 billion in cash and tax points, as compared to $6.8 billion today, a mere $1.3 billion difference. Often, when this issue is raised, the federal government is blamed; the next level of government is always to blame when the provinces are forced to cut back in their priorities.
The decision to cut back is made by the provinces. They are free to use the money that comes back to them as they please, depending on their priorities.
When six provinces have achieved balanced budgets, when one spends more than another, on a per capita basis, in the area of health care, and another one decides to spend more on public servants and administration, I think these are priorities, and the priority for the Province of Quebec—