Mr. Speaker, I would like to reply to that, just as we have done several times over the last ten years since we came here.
We hand over more than $35 billion a year to the government. We hand over more than 60% of all our taxes to the federal government. We are not getting back our fair share in many areas.
Furthermore, Quebec as a nation, Quebec as a people has proven time and time again that it can manage its own affairs in every area. Whether in the business, cultural or other realms, we have proven that, if we were given the chance to manage our own affairs, our own social programs, we could substantially improve our quality of life. There have been several debates on that point.
I cannot understand those who say that we received $4 billion when in fact that $4 billion represents money that we paid. The amounts that are returned to us or given back by the government do not come out of thin air. The federal government has never given us our fair share. If we could go back in time, we would see who owes what to a province which was there at the beginning and which paid off debts. If we could add up everything the rest of Canada owes us, I think that some folks would have to declare bankruptcy.