Mr. Speaker, once again we are listening to the NDP rhetoric. If I could go back to the comments made this morning, the member for Kamloops painted a picture that the economy was going down the drain, that there has been no progress made in this country at all since 1993. Clearly that is wrong, but of course the NDP needs to focus on that rhetoric in order to deliver its message.
The member started her comments by asking why there is silence on the bank issue. What does Bill C-28 have to do with the bank issue? We are talking about an increase in the stabilization of a cash floor in the CHST plus some other tax measures.
The finance minister and the prime minister have stated quite clearly that when it comes to the bank merger, which she made reference to, there is a process in place. This government will continue with that process. There will not be a knee-jerk reaction to this announcement of a merger by the banks. The minister has clearly said that once that information is brought forward, it will be looked at in consultation with Canadians and if that merger is not in the best interests of Canadians, it will not happen. I do not know why the comment was made other than that it is NDP rhetoric.
With respect to her comments on this bill, she made a comment that we are supporting a two tier system, that we support user fees in this country. When the province of Alberta attempted to set up private clinics and put forward user fees, it was this government that withheld and was willing to withhold transfers to that province in order to ensure we maintained the level of health care that Canadians expect. We are ensuring that we will support the principles of the Canada Health Act.
The member went on to say that this bill does nothing to put money back into the social transfers. Let us not be ridiculous. This bill reflects a changing fiscal reality. We now have dollars to reinvest in the priorities of Canadians. In 1998-99 the pre Bill C-28 cash transfer would be $11.6 billion while the post Bill C-28 cash transfer would be $12.5 billion. In 1999-2000 the pre Bill C-28 cash transfer would be $11 billion while the post Bill C-28 cash transfer would be $12.5 billion. That is real cash that is going to the provinces in the form of a transfer. What we have post Bill C-28 is a 2.5% increase in the transfers to the provinces.