Madam Speaker, the ability of the provinces to continue to finance their programs under CHST, especially health care, is critically important. I can answer the hon. member's question by repeating the Canadian Alliance position, especially related to health care.
Not only should we maintain the five principles of the Canada Health Act, but we should add a sixth principle which would legislate the funding level for health below which the federal government could not go. That would put in place the assurance our citizens need that we would not see for political purposes the arbitrary reduction of the value of that portion.
Therefore, we would be not only supporting the cash transfer, but also the minimal level and restoring the full amount of the cash transfer, which still has not been done to the 1994-95 levels. Therefore, restore it to those levels and put into law the principle of a legislated amount below which the federal government could not go.