Mr. Speaker, again and again we hear the rhetoric. The hon. member talks about jurisdiction.
I wish for once, instead of worrying about jurisdiction, they would be concerned about the impact on Quebecers and Canadians. They are so focused on jurisdiction. What this is all about is a reinvestment in health care, a reinvestment in Canadian priorities.
I would like to set the facts straight. Let us be clear. The decrease in transfer payments accounts for less than 3% of Quebec's revenues. The cuts that Quebec has imposed on the municipalities account for close to 6% or almost double the amount of the federal cuts.
Quebec in its 1997-98 estimates announced its intention to cut health care and education spending by 3.2% and 5.8% while at the same time indicating that other spending has increased by 4%.
While the hon. member might be arguing that health care is a priority, obviously as shown in Tuesday's debate health care is not the priority of the provincial government. I do not know why the hon. member is up here arguing for more money for Quebec.