Madam Speaker, it is none too bright of those on the other side to start making such remarks when a very serious matter is being discussed. They are being totally demolished by the Reform and do not want to hear any arguments in favour of the equalization payment system. This seems illogical. Sometimes the Liberals exhibit no logic whatsoever, particularly the Liberals from Quebec.
As I was saying about Manitoba, if Manitoba had a population of 7.3 million instead of the 1,141,000 it does have, it would get seven times as much in total equalization payments as Quebec. One can fiddle about with figures like that, but the main point is that there must be a fundamental respect of an act or of a program.
This equalization program has been established on a per capita basis, for the people the members across the way are supposed to be serving. But instead of serving them, they are laughing and saying any old thing. I would be ashamed if I were in their shoes. It would not be a pretty picture if residents from the riding of Beauce saw their member of Parliament act like a clown in this House. They would go back to their riding and condemn such behaviour.
With respect to the reputation of members of the political profession, when we look at polls and see politicians ranking dead last in terms of credibility, it is because of attitudes like this.