Mr. Speaker, we are not setting a precedent; we are merely following the law.
We have a legislative plan where all the benefits are guaranteed to the employees. We are not only guaranteeing the benefits to the employees in terms of their pension plans but we are increasing these benefits.
Over the years it has only been the taxpayers who have shared the risk and who have paid for it. When the plan was indexed there was an additional liability of $8 billion. Every cent of it was paid for by taxpayers, so there is no doubt, no legal doubt and no accounting doubt, that the surplus belongs to Canadian taxpayers.