Mr. Speaker, I would ask the member to carefully reflect on what he is saying and explain the underlying principle of what he is talking about.
Is there a perverse incentive to equalization? What is the long term goal? Should it not be to eventually get off such supports? Is he talking about more transfers rather than self-sufficiency? Should equalization not be gradually reduced, as, for example, offshore revenues greatly increase? If in future years a province like Newfoundland receives tremendous more revenue benefits, should its reliance on the formula of transfers be gradually reduced? What would be his formula to achieve that self-reliance? Does the member also still believe that it is always just the rights of the receiver and not necessarily the rights and benefits of the payer?