Mr. Speaker, the member for Medicine Hat has a very good understanding of the history that has led to a lot of the difficulties with the provinces from the federal government side of things.
I would like to ask him more about the history of the former finance minister and the Liberal administration from 1993 to the moment. They have not been very good at doing the books for the country.
They seem to have overestimated the need for employment insurance premiums from both employees and employers. There is something like a $30 billion surplus in that fund. Even last year there was $3 billion more than was needed. They have been putting money into foundations, $7 billion, which the auditor general says is really hurting the accountability factor and reporting to parliament.
The former finance minister was good at low balling or underplaying the surplus. Last year he estimated the surplus would be $1.5 billion. Many economists are saying it looks like it will be more like $7 billion to $10 billion. This was a fairly consistent way in which the former minister operated.
I ask my colleague from Medicine Hat, is that not an irresponsible way of accounting by the federal government?