Mr. Chair, the question was about underwriting some of the cost of these programs, not just discussing them. I would like to move on to a question on accountability.
I believe the federal government has a positive duty to ensure accountability and results based benefit from the new spending that it has offered. Why did the minister not attend definitively to this important issue when he met with the provinces? It is very important that there be a firm accountability regime in place and at this point it is still under discussion.