Madam Chair, the hon. member is quite right to identify that virtually all the dollars transferred to provinces for health care, or in fact for most other areas, are transferred on the basis of per capita.
The hon. member I know is aware of the fact that there is an equalization program. In fact equalization is a commitment set out in our Constitution. Equalization is in place to help some of the poorer provinces in our federation to ensure that they are able to provide a minimum level of services for their respective populations
I know this does not meet the entire concern identified by the hon. member. There was a commitment made at the time of the first ministers meeting in February because a number of provinces put the issue of equalization. As we deal with funding per capita largely in the FMM, let us take a look at the equalization formula and see whether it is working. If it is not, how it can be revisited?
That commitment was made at the time by the Government of Canada. That review of equalization will take place. I think that is the best vehicle by which we can hope to deal with the kind of inequities which the hon. member has mentioned.