I wonder why there is shouting from the other side. We listened to them; let them listen to us. Let them show us some respect. When it is said that Quebec receives $960 per capita in transfer payments, whereas Ontario receives $836, is this equitable? No.
In 1990, the previous government asked the three richest provinces to accept a two-year freeze on transfer payments so as to give the other provinces, including Quebec, a chance to get through the recession. That is now past. The governments were notified that there would be a return to equity as far as transfers were concerned.
Mr. Bouchard, then a minister in the Conservative government, had said that this was necessary. Now he claims to have never heard of such a thing. Odd, since he was there. As for equalization payments and the unexpected $1.4 billion cheque given to Quebec, which could give it the possibility of eliminating its deficit, there is no mention of that.