Mr. Speaker, I am probably what one would call a right wing Liberal. I make no apologies for that. In fact, not only am I not embarrassed, I am proud of a government that wiped out a $42 billion deficit and put this country into a sound financial position so that we can in fact deal with the problems in health care. Believe me, we will.
I am used to getting misrepresentation from some members opposite in the official opposition, but it disturbs me when a man of the quality of the member from Regina stands here and says something that he knows is patently false. To say that this government's transfer for health care is 13 cents is just not true. The member knows that in 1977 the federal government reduced its share of the tax base and gave the power to tax for that reduction directly to the provinces. They are called tax points.
The member knows that when we combine cash and tax points the amount being transferred is 33 cents. He says that it used to 50 cents. It was when it started. It was reduced because the provinces increased the number of items being covered down to 41 cents. The real truth here, and let us not play too much with numbers, is that it has gone from 41% down to 33%.
Yes, that needs to be increased. There is no question about it. We will work with the provinces. The one thing I can say is that this government is not about to hand blank cheques to Mike Harris and Ralph Klein so they can turn around and give 30% tax cuts to their wealthy friends without putting that money into health care. We are going to make sure it goes where it is needed.