Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague who has just spoken and who made us really aware of the difficulties this would present to a province like British Columbia which is now in the have not category, which is a very big change in short period of time.
I remember the province of British Columbia contributing to the equalization formula for a great many years, I believe ever since it was set up, until just recently. Various provincial governments made things so difficult that it drove out investment. British Columbia is now a have not province and will be able to claim under the equalization formula.
Does my colleague believe that the federal government bears some responsibility for having miscalculated this program for at least 10 years? Does that fact not have to enter into the mix, that if the government is responsible it should bear some of that responsibility and not penalize the provinces?