Madam Speaker, I listened to the hon. member's speech and thought it was actually quite an interesting discourse on the vagaries of the equalization formula. I do not dispute with him that it picks up some unintended consequences and some disparities that are almost a necessary by-product of formularization. I would agree with him that when we are using 33 standards across 10 provinces and 3 territories, we are going to have a degree of complexity which would cross the eyes of a rabbi.
Having said that, that is not what this debate is about. This debate is about whether Newfoundland and Labrador in particular, and Nova Scotia as well, should continue to receive equalization payments while their revenues generated from offshore funding sources are continuing to come up. The issue is whether they would in fact achieve an Ontario standard which is really beyond the five province standard.
I take it, therefore, from the hon. member's comments that he will not find himself able to support this motion before the House today because it will create another level of inequity, another level of complexity and discrepancy in that we will have one or two provinces which have particular arrangements with the federal government which will in effect entitle them to moneys beyond the Ontario standard.
Does the hon. member feel that this is appropriate in the case of Quebec?