Madam Speaker, I know time is short so I have just a brief question for the hon. member.
Let me thank the hon. member on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador for standing up for our province and for coming to our province and making a commitment. Along those lines, I would like to ask him a question. He was expected to put his commitment in writing, which he did. Our leader was expected to put his commitment to the province in writing, which he did. In the view of the leader of the NDP, why is it that the Prime Minister did not or would not put his commitment in writing?
This I ask particularly in light of the fact that just a week ago, after a long period of negotiations, discussions and commitments, the Minister of Finance gave what he knows is a half-hearted offer to the province, which has been rejected but was pushed by the Minister of Natural Resources with a take it or leave it comment. As the member has outlined, the effect would be disastrous for our province.
Why the discrepancy in what he was expected to do, what our leader was expected to do and what the Prime Minister should do?