Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. I am going to answer in English because it is a very complicated issue.
We have presented the government with an alternative formula for ensuring some escalation in the bill that is based on growth in the gross domestic product and in line with economic growth as opposed to a straight 3.5%. We do not believe that would have a deleterious impact on the provinces or that it would cost so much as to be out of the range of federal fiscal capability.
We make our case based on the fact that the government saw fit to include in the bill dealing with health transfers, which is also before the House at the moment, an escalator clause of 6%. That seems to me more in order with the times and more reflective of the reality of the situation. Under no circumstances should it lead to a situation where provinces are getting less.
I think Manitoba has come forward with a well thought out plan. Why there is no support for it is again the federal government's unwillingness to spend properly or to meet the demand on a realistic basis, instead of always shortchanging the provinces, on top of the fact through the transfer payment system in general over the last 10 years we have seen so much money that has been lost in the federal to provincial transfers and where the federal government has off-loaded responsibility without commensurate increases in transfers. Whether we are talking about health, education, social assistance or some other program, we have a government that has created a fiscal imbalance.
It is for that reason that I think the committee, as proposed by my colleague from the Bloc, is so useful and which will be warmly received by everyone across the country.