Do you know why they are talking and laughing across the way? Because they do not want us to dispel a myth arising from remarks that are sometimes so tendentious as to be deceitful. That is why they are raising their voices. They do not wish to hear the truth.
As I was saying, equalization payments are established per capita for each of the provinces, which is understandable.
Initially, in 1957, they said that each Canadian, from coast to coast, should enjoy consistent public services without crippling cost to the provincial governments. So equalization payments were used for this purpose and calculated on a per capita basis.
Seven provinces currently receive equalization payments, and Quebec is not the one receiving the most. Payment on a per capita basis is the basis of the program. This year, Quebec received $536 per capita.
Newfoundland received $1,743 per capita, or three times what Quebec received. Let us also look at New Brunswick. And in terms of figures, the Minister of Human Resources Development is not so qualified, because he cannot differentiate between 38% coverage and 62% coverage. He mixes up the figures. His figures are also a little tendentious.
So, New Brunswick received $1,322 per capita, again nearly three times what Quebec receives.