Mr. Speaker, I would like to just remind the member that it was the same Liberal government that had formulas for funding for health care back in the late 1960s when health care was put into effect. I remind him that at the time his government told the provinces that its portion of the funding would never fall below 50%. We know that is not the case now. In the case of Alberta, I think the federal government's contribution is only 12%.
National programs were put into effect and the provinces thought there would be a funding formula that would be adequate. They have had to go basically their own way in funding over the past several years as governments have backed out.
Also the health and social transfers grants were changed to the provinces in the mid-1990s as the federal government, the hon. member's government, balanced the budget. This had severe impacts on the provinces in terms of how they would fund their programs. At the same time these overpayments were occurring, almost 10 years of overpayments.
It would seem to me that the government does not have a very good record in this regard. It walks away from programs and program formulas when it is to its advantage, but when it is not to its advantage, now it wants the money back from the provinces after it has been spent. I would like a reaction from the hon. member to that.