Mr. Speaker, I heard the government member's explanation. I would like to remind him that this is the first time the Canadian government has put forward such legislation. I believe this shows beyond a doubt that the Parliament of Canada is totally paralyzed right now. Everything is at a standstill.
The negotiations that are currently under way have been going on for 20 years. This is totally unacceptable. The equalization process is so complex that it has been called abstruse. That means it is sheer madness.
Even the Quebec finance minister had his hopes up. He stated that he was expecting many changes, not a one year extension. We were expecting that the negotiations would be completed during this Parliament, before the next equalization payments were due. Instead of that, we have a one year extension.
My question for the member is: Does he believe that Quebec and the provinces are being penalized by the infighting between the Prime Minister and the member for LaSalle—Émard?