Mr. Speaker, I have a few questions for my colleague.
First, I would like to know if he has read the Séguin report. That is my first question, and I would like him to give me a straight answer.
Second, he is going way too far when he says that the Séguin commission wants to do away with the CHST, the Canada social transfer, when it is an incredible contribution to the delivery of health care and education services. The CHST used to be a good program. Previously, separate funding was provided for health, education and income security. Initially, when it was first implemented, there was a 50% contribution from the federal government for costs associated with health care, education and income security. The remaining 50% came from the government of Quebec or other provincial governments.
Today, CHST contributions are 14 cents for health and 8 cents for education for each dollar invested by the provinces. How is this contribution so wonderful and sufficient that it does not need to be adjusted, given the huge surpluses the federal government has been accumulating?
How is it that all those who are calling for increased health funding and more stability for such funding are wrong, and the secretary of state is the only one who is right? There is a limit to taking people for fools.