Madam Chair, I want to thank the member again for his kind words. I appreciate working with him at the health committee.
He pointed out that we have unanimity of purpose. For political parties, not always unanimity of opinions on every point, but unanimity of purpose. On this purpose and this objective there has been no differentiation.
I ask the member to recognize, and I think it is important to do so, that it is easy to look at the past and people who are not here to defend themselves and to question their intent. But I think there is one element, and I do not think that he wants to mislead anybody but the way that he said it, it might be misleading to people who do not have all the facts, that has to be understood, and I believe the member understands that and knows that.
Since that fund was established those moneys are no longer under the control of the minister. The minister cannot access those funds. The minister must apply as one of the contributors. The federal government was one of the contributors to the funds, but the fund was held in trust for the people who had the claim before the federal government where we had to negotiate a friendly settlement.
Those funds were being managed and held in trust by them. We must have the agreement of three provincial courts before those funds can be released or used in another way other than for what the fund was established. For that to happen, we have to show that there is a surplus. The federal government cannot declare a surplus. The actuarial surplus will be pointed out to the court by actuaries. The court will agree that there is a surplus, presumably. Then we can make application. The minister has indicated the path he wishes to follow.
Would the member not agree that in his capacity that is the shortest possible method for the minister to access those funds?