Madam Speaker, let us go back to when I was briefed. It was not last Friday. I was briefed when the negotiations finished between the minister of finance of Newfoundland and the Minister of Finance for Canada, which was on a Thursday. I was called in on Friday morning and given the final briefing on this deal. I went back to Newfoundland and Labrador not to sell the deal. We were not supposed to talk about it because the minister of finance of Newfoundland was supposed to talk to his premier. The Minister of Finance for Canada was supposed to talk to the Prime Minister. Then they would communicate some time over the weekend, and let us assume it was Monday. I said that very clearly.
I also said that I was not to go to Newfoundland and talk about the deal in any manner whatsoever. When I arrived at the Halifax airport, I received calls from my office that the finance minister for Newfoundland was on the news and that the deal had all fallen apart.
Word was given not to discuss it, and that is not the case right now. The issue now is what we should be do on both sides of the House. If I were making a constructive argument on that side of the House, I would be saying to the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador to get back down to discussions. Let us see if there is some way we can work out a deal that will satisfy the people of Newfoundland and Labrador so they can be the maximum beneficiaries, as they should be.
I agree with all members of the House, all the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, that we should and will fulfill the Prime Minister's commitment by giving Newfoundlanders and Labradorians 100%.