Mr. Speaker, after listening to my colleague's remarks, I thought of several questions I would like to raise officially in this House. Could we get confirmation that the cumulative surplus for the first six months of fiscal year 1998-99 is $10.4 billion, whereas a few weeks ago, as budget forecasts were being prepared, the Minister of Finance said “There will be no surplus of that amount”. But that is not the reality. Could he confirm that the figure is indeed $10.4 billion for the first six months?
Second, could he not act on the unanimous request of the provincial premiers, including the Liberal premiers?
Last week Brian Tobin and Russell MacLellan again asked the federal government to put money back into the transfer payments as soon as possible.
Today, the matter is clear for all Canadians: if the government simply pays back the debt and puts no money into health care transfer payments, the cost is once again passed on to those who fought the deficit, and the finances of those in the middle class and of the disadvantaged will not improve.
Are Canadians not entitled to quality health care through the injection of considerable funds, starting with the $2 billion requested in this area, to ensure that our health care system can have some breathing room?
With the $10 billion surplus in the first six months, which the Minister of Finance hid, could the government not be compassionate and ensure Canadians get proper health care by contributing fairly?