Mr. Speaker, I cannot be responsible for decisions made by the government during the 1980s. I do know that there was a moment in time when there was an agreement made for bloc funding. I believe the provinces asked for it so they would have more of a free hand in dispensing their moneys among their various human service programs. No matter what spin the member opposite puts on the recent agreement called the health accord, the premiers did sign it and emerged sounding quite pleased with the agreement they had made.
In the House of Commons on February 19th, 2002. See this statement in context.