Mr. Speaker, in the give and take of the discussion, to get to the hon. gentleman's first question, it is unfortunate that the tenor of the discussion took on a rather sour overtone. I want to assure him that in everything I have done on this file, and I think this would be verified by Minister Sullivan and Minister Clarke, has been aimed toward arriving at a constructive solution. I will continue to work in that fashion.
Over these last number of days I had the opportunity to talk to my provincial counterparts. I know the Prime Minister has had conversations with the premiers. The dialogue is ongoing and I want it to be fruitful and successful.
With regard to the second part of my colleague's question on the issue of misunderstanding, in some of the dialogue it may not have been clear as to what exactly was referred to in this Ontario threshold. Some people had the impression that it referred to the combination of own source revenue, equalization and the existing 30%. It has no impact there whatsoever.
The reference to that threshold, in the discussion thus far, has applied only to that fourth and incremental stream. In the realm of $50 or $55 per barrel of oil, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that on the basis of own source revenue, equalization and the 30%, that the fiscal capacity of Ontario could be matched without the incremental stream.