Mr. Speaker, I have the figures here to show the hon. member the stability of equalization payments in recent years and those planned for the future. This is for Quebec only. In 1995-96, $4.2 billion; in 1996-97, $4.2 billion; in 1997-98, $4.8 billion; in 1998-99, $4.6 billion; in 1999-2000, $4.5 billion; in 2000-01, $4.7 billion; in 2001-02, $4.9 billion; in 2002-03, $5.1 billion; and in 2003-04, $5.4 billion.
It is very stable and it will increase.