I thank my colleagues. I knew I would get help in this respect. What is happening here is that we have this astronomical surplus, while Quebeckers and Canadians in the other provinces are suffering and have real needs. We must speak out with one voice against the arrogant and stubborn attitude of this government, which refuses to see reality and keeps money which does not belong to it. The money belongs to taxpayers and must be returned to them, the provinces and Quebec. It is extremely important .
Since I have only two minutes left, I will conclude. When we talk about Quebec being financially strangled and we compare that to the hidden surpluses, the mistakes that have been made are shocking. Right now, as we speak, a fake budget is being put in place. We are talking about $12 billion in hidden surpluses, or $10 billion to $12 billion according to the experts, which are accumulating, and we cannot even discuss how to use this surplus because it is hidden in a calculated, premeditated fashion.
The government cannot pretend it is a mistake, a miscalculation. For years, since 1997 as a matter of fact, it has erred by 500% to 600%. It is a disgrace. In the meantime, it tells Quebec and the other provinces that there is no money. It stubbornly refuses to give them more arguing there is no money. No one, no Canadian, no Quebecker believes this government which has a huge credibility deficit into which it is plunging deeper.
It managed to eliminate its deficit not by being more efficient in the areas under its jurisdiction, not by spending more wisely, but simply by strangling the unemployed and smothering Quebec and the provinces under en extremely disgraceful fiscal imbalance. That is the reason why I will enthusiastically vote in favour the Bloc Québécois motion—and I hope my colleagues from the other opposition parties will follow suit—to force this government to listen to the people who timidly elected it.