Mr. Speaker, I think the answer to the second question is that there was a lot of guesswork in coming to the $1.1 billion. I do not think they know for sure how many victims they are going to compensate with that $1.1 billion.
The member knows the federal government is to pay $800 million of that and the provinces $300 million of that, and that division came of course because of negotiations. But the $1.1 billion is just a guess, I assume, from what I have heard and may or may not be accurate. Indeed that money will now have to be increased to compensate all victims.
I also want to comment on the first part of what the member said. I am pleased the House is going to support the motion today. I think the House should also be saying to the ministers of health, let us televise those hearings. Let us have those hearings in public. We did that in some of the constitutional process which led to Charlottetown, the member may recall.
There is no reason the hearings cannot be televised. The victims of hepatitis C could see exactly where every minister stands, where every province stands, where the federal government stands. Just as important, the Canadian people could see the response of their governments. Let us negotiate in public. Let us have a transparent process. Let us open up the democratic process in this country so we have more accountability and more visibility.
I would certainly favour any motion anyone puts to that effect in the House.