Madam Speaker, while I thank the member opposite for his questions, I despair over his mathematics. I happen to know one of his Reform colleagues and I wonder if they could get together with a calculator to figure this out.
Canadians get a lot in return for their tax dollars. One thing which the government has made very clear is that it will not run deficits. It will make sure that it is not giving tax cuts with borrowed money and that it will make strategic investments.
Health care is at the top of the list of all Canadians and we in the government are trying to work with the provinces and territories to make sure that structurally we change how we deliver health care in Canada.
There are many challenges. The problem is much more than money. I need to point out that it is not the intent of the government to make a down payment on a few hospital beds. We are creating the kind of economy that will sustain a medicare system well into the next century, and that is what defines us as Canadians.