It seems like they do not want to hear the word cooperation.
Further, on page 44, it says, and I quote:
— working with the provinces and territories to secure a 10-year agreement for better health care.
A little further we read:
—I will meet with the first ministers to put in place some of the most meaningful reforms to equalization—
On the same page it says:
—the premiers and I sat down with Aboriginal leaders—
And it continues:
—as we work with provinces, cities and communities on the mechanism and ramp-up for our transfer of a portion of the gas tax—
On the next page, page 45, we read:
We will also be working with the other orders of government on infrastructure—
I am already up to six quotations. Here is the seventh, found later on the same page:
As a government, we will work with the territories and Aboriginal groups—
In the next paragraph, we see:
—in collaboration with our circumpolar partners.
On the next page, we read:
—we will work with the provinces, the territories and stakeholder groups to increase support for family caregivers—
It goes on to say:
When the government of Canada brings together its 13 territorial and provincial partners—
And that is the meaning of the Speech from the Throne. I think it is important that our friends in the Bloc recognize, although it does not suit them to, the degree of cooperation and collaboration that exists among the various levels of government.
We are talking about respect for jurisdictions. They are going to talk about it. Not only do I feel it coming, but I have heard it. They are talking about the fiscal imbalance.
In our constituency offices, people are well aware that we respect provincial jurisdictions. What they are looking for from their elected officials are answers. They do not want any more hassle. “Will you be able to get along together?” I ask the House: will we be able to get along together? I think the answer from our friends in the Bloc still involves a lot quarrelling.
There is this constant desire to sow discord and fuel it. They claim that it is not working and will not work, that nothing is working. That is not our message. The message of the throne speech is a positive one.
They talk about financial pressures, about fiscal imbalance. They used those words in an amendment to an amendment. But before putting this amendment to an amendment forward, did they confirm with the council of the federation that this is what was wanted? Did they check?
I have heard that the council of the federation is not unanimous on this matter. Let there be no misunderstanding: things are going well. Members have seen the health accord signed by the council, the premiers and the Prime Minister of Canada. We have seen that, and see what is coming with respect to equalization. I think that that too will work very well.
It is essential that we work together rather than divide and conquer. I do not think that Quebec's premier needs the Bloc Quebecois to convey his messages to this House or to the government.
Let us consider this issue for a moment. Allegations were made about the fiscal imbalance. An entire theory has been built around this topic. That is not what matters. What matters is that, for each issue, we can sit together, negotiate and ensure that a win-win situation is achieved. That is what matters. That is what the Prime Minister of Canada is doing with the provincial premiers. That is what matters to us. We do not want to squabble; the time for squabbling has passed.
I will conclude with an example, on page—