Madam Chair, for 2003-04 the actual cash transfer is $19.8 billion.
I completely reject the argument, whether Mr. Romanow makes it or anyone else, that we do not include tax points, which in fact lead to a calculation. If we include $19.8 billion cash, tax points of $17.5 billion, plus an additional $1 billion coming out of our health reform fund for this year, a total of $38.3 billion in 2003-04 are transferred to the provinces.
Those tax points are important. It is up to the provinces to decide what they use the money raised through those tax points on. That is why they were given to the provinces, to provide them with that kind of flexibility in terms of planning. It is up to their voters to keep those provincial governments accountable. If the provincial voters want the value in cash of those tax points spent on health care, they should be making that case. If they do not, then I would suggest that is a really important public accountability issue in relation to what the value in cash of those tax points is being used for in provinces across the country.
We know there is $19.8 billion in cash, $17.5 billion in tax points and an additional $1 billion in new money from the health reform fund to begin the structural changes that we talk about in the health accord. That is $38.3 billion in this year as it relates to cash and tax transfers and the health reform fund. Most Canadians would say that is a pretty hefty chunk of change on top of what the provinces spend.
Canadians are asking “What do I get for that in my health care system? Am I healthier than I was and if not, why not? Am I as healthy as the people who live in the province next door and if not, why not?” Those are all really important questions around accountability and it is not all about more money.