Madam Speaker, the numbers I have come from official government documents. If the member has different numbers, she had better read the documents and get the proper numbers.
When we talk about cash transfers we are not talking about ad hoc programs. We put $11.5 billion last year into the budget to help the provinces with their financial situations, to put money toward emergencies and to solve problems. We added to that $1.2 billion this year. If we combine the $11.5 billion and $1.2 billion we end up with a huge increase over a two year period which is in the neighbourhood of 25%.
It is important to realize that no member on this side of the House has said that is the limit. The people on this side of the House have said “We have to plan”. We have to work with the provinces, which control the health budgets. We have to make certain that the dollars going in are utilized for the services Canadians need. That is important.