Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the member a question with respect to the province of Quebec.
We know Quebec has been a part of Confederation since the very beginning. It is one of the oldest provinces. It contains one-fourth of the country's population. It has a hardworking population. It has a fair number of natural facilities. It has a lot of natural resources. It has a strong agricultural community. It has a vigorous people and yet year after year somehow it needs money from Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta in order to finance the basic programs for its people.
Does the member have any hopes, any dreams for the country, that the province of Quebec, one of the strongest provinces in the country, will eventually become self-sufficient and be able to provide for its own citizens from its own revenues? Is that an anticipation or are we really looking at perpetually having the other provinces support this very vigorous province?
The reason I ask has to do with the whole basis of equalization. It seems the formula used is such that it demeans the people of Quebec by making them dependent on the rest of the country and does not provide for them an opportunity to be self-sufficient. I would like to see that happen. I wonder what the member has to say about that. I would appreciate his comments.