Mr. Speaker, I was disappointed that my colleague felt that there was duplication by the provinces and others in considering health care, developing proposals and plans, prior to the Romanow commission publishing its results.
It seems to me that in a confederation that is an appropriate way to go. First, we seek opinion across the country in the different jurisdictions. We seek opinion from those involved, for example, nurses, patient groups and people of this type. Then at that point, the federal government comes in, as it is doing, with the Romanow commission. It is my hope that the Romanow commission will make good use of what all of the provinces and these other groups have done.
I am surprised to hear him dismiss the tax points as a part of the federal government's contribution. That is the most decentralizing thing that we do. Having given up these tax points to the provincial jurisdiction we no longer have control over them and the provinces get the proceeds.
To proceed to say that the federal government is only putting in, and he has the figures for Quebec, nationwide 14%, when in fact we are paying 40% of the health care costs in Canada, is to underestimate the situation. Tax points count as do equalization payments, which benefit the province of Quebec, and so does the direct spending of the federal government on research and things of that type.
I know the member has a strong provincial view and that he passionately supports the people who live in Quebec. I believe however that the federal government should have a stronger not weaker say in health care.
Does he not at least think that when residents of the province of Quebec travel across Canada, or when they move to work in another province somewhere else in Canada, they should get exactly the same care that they get at home? The federal government is the only government that can guarantee that portability of the health care system, which the citizens of the province of Quebec have at the present time.