Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for both of his questions.
In politics, it is unusual to give very direct answers, but I will give one now. Yes, there is health legislation that provides a Canadian framework where the five basic principles regarding health care that all of the provinces must respect are laid out. Everyone agrees on this, including the provinces.
We all acknowledge, and the Minister of Health has also said, that it is the provinces' responsibility and jurisdiction to administer the health care system, based on the needs of each of the provinces. There is no debate on this. However, the motion moved here needs to recognize some things.
In response to his second question, if I had been an MNA, I would have at least asked my leader not to support a motion with this wording.
There is constant talk of unconditional transfer. Yet there are many examples of highly successful federal-provincial negotiations. Take, for example, the immigration agreement between Quebec and the Government of Canada. There were negotiations, an agreement, fund transfers. There was a manpower training agreement for a total of $600 million annually, with negotiations and an agreement. Areas of jurisdiction were respected.
Hon. members need to recall the latest agreement, from September 2000, when Mr. Bouchard, the Premier of Quebec at the time, negotiated, signed on and accepted funds—some of which were listed just now—for primary care services and medical equipment purchases. There was an agreement. Quebec was told there was money available and asked “Do you want some?”. They said yes, and signed the agreement.
Are you admitting in the resolution that Quebec's premier is weak for not wanting to negotiate? You are saying “Transfer the money to us without conditions” but that is not how things are done. The Government of Canada is not a bank. It does not give out money.
There is agreement on major principles and then together we sign an agreement. We share responsibilities and allocate the money according to the frameworks on which agreement has been reached.
Mr. Bouchard never made demands along the lines of “Transfer the money to us without any conditions”. What he said was “I am a negotiator and I am going to sit down at the table and we will negotiate”. They reached an agreement and it was signed, for a total of $21.2 billion. That is not peanuts, it is a considerable amount.
I am convinced that the Government of Quebec will take part in this conference. I am convinced that all provinces and the Government of Canada are gong to reach an agreement.