Mr. Speaker, the member's suggestion has to a large degree been taken up by the government. About 15 months ago the premiers and the Prime Minister signed an agreement on health care funding that was to last five years.
This is another reason it is surprising that the premiers are suggesting they are not getting enough money. They agreed to a five year amount to be doled out on an annual basis. Now they are saying it is not enough. They say they need another $7 billion or so.
Long term sustainable funding is the goal of every program the Government of Canada administers, whether it is funding for the arts, the CBC or health care. Health care is the most important of all these. However as fiscal stewards of the nation's treasury the government must always be responsible. To go beyond five years would not be totally responsible.