Mr. Speaker, all levels of government, the Quebec government, the federal government and all other provinces, are subject to fiscal pressures. There is nothing new about that.
Let me say that if we look at the current equalization levels, we are at about $8.9 billion. There is an immediate increase to $10 billion and then in 2005-06 up to $10.9 billion. Over the course of the period of time, it averages out to a 7.5% increase over that five year period. It is a 42% jump in equalization payments.
Those folks do not seem to be able to take prosperity, Mr. Speaker.