Madam Speaker, I would not miss this opportunity to ask a few questions to the hon. member who, I think, belongs to the progressive wing of the Liberal Party. It is surely not by accident that she is parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development.
But there is what I would call a gap. I can hardly understand the hon. member's position, not because I did not listen to her speech, not because I am insensitive, but because I think there is a basic contradiction.
To begin with, when we were young—and of course we still are—and we were learning about federalism, we were told it was a political system characterized by two levels of government, both being independent. Thus, the situation is at the very least confusing.
Given the actual state of federalism in Canada, it is possible for the federal government to completely destabilize the finances of the provinces.
The issue here is the fact that they are cutting $42 billion unilaterally, without any consultation, in a totally cavalier fashion that is almost insulting, if not downright indecent.
If officials from finance, or human resources development, or other departments were here today, they would have to agree with the Bloc Quebecois's conclusion that, since the Liberals came to power, their budgets have taken $42 billion from the provinces.
This is serious and dangerous. I think it is almost unconstitutional. What this means is that because the government shamelessly deprived the provinces of funds they had budgeted and anticipated, that they expected to find in their own budget, we are now left in a position that generated poverty and where the Government of Quebec, for instance, found itself unable to deliver all the services it could have.
Of course, one must admit—and I think my colleagues will agree—that the Government of Quebec was nothing short of extraordinary in managing the province's affairs. Deep down, you are probably thinking of the $5 day care program and the tuition freeze. But had it not been for the Quebec government's unfailing determination, it could not have avoided major impending difficulties.
What would be really interesting today would be for all the premiers to endorse the consensus reached in Saskatoon. I see my colleague, the Minister of Human Resources Development, nodding in agreement. I hope he will be able to convince his cabinet colleagues. Usually, they listen to him very carefully. I am even told he sits quite close to the heritage minister.
That leads us to ask ourselves if we can expect the government party, backbenchers as well as ministers, to endorse today the consensus reached in Saskatoon. This consensus means that the government would immediately be prepared to authorize the Minister of Human Resources Development to transfer $2 billion to the provinces, because this amounts to the loss of revenues in the health transfer.