Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my Liberal colleague what sort of surplus he foresees for next year. If there is one, could part of it not go to health care?
I think the Constitution provides clearly, on the subject of provincial jurisdiction, that health care and its administration are provincial matters and that the federal government's role is to transfer funding for health, education and social assistance.
But the Liberals made cuts, and they still have the gall to tell everyone that they reinvested in health. They wanted to cut $48 billion, but they were pressured into cutting only $42 billion. That is not money reinvested in health. They just cut less. People are not dumb.
This government, which flatters itself on its ability, came up with a budget surplus that exceeded its objective of a zero deficit. That is all very well. Is there no way, though, that part of the $10.8 budget surplus could go to health? Could it not go to the sick via the provinces?