Mr. Speaker, I go back to the comments made earlier today. We took office with a $42 billion deficit. Had we not done the things we did when we did them, we might be in front of this House today asking for further cuts instead of asking this House to approve a reinvestment into a Canadian priority.
The hon. member mentioned that Quebec cutbacks were a result of the federal government cutting back in all these other various tax measures. I say quite clearly that post Bill C-28 the province of Quebec will continue to receive additional moneys each and every year when we add together the tax points, the cash transfers and the equalization payments. The federal government is contributing to the province of Quebec and ensuring that the province is able to deliver the health care that Quebeckers and Canadians expect.
When a province decides to cut back in the area of health care it is because the province has taken that decision. This government has been fair and will continue to be fair and equitable in its approach. I challenge the member from the Bloc Quebecois to rationalize and give us a reason. In fact those payments are going up and not down.