Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary said something that is correct. The equalization formula should measure fiscal capacity.
In this current year Manitoba is receiving $1.4 billion in equalization payments and Saskatchewan is getting $77 million. I am sure he can understand the huge disparity between them.
When we look at per capita income, Manitoba is $1,500 higher than Saskatchewan. The average family of four gets basically $6,000 more in income. Next year the growth is projected to be $1.6 billion in equalization payments for Manitoba. For Saskatchewan it is $88 million. Both of those provinces have about a million people. By most indicators Manitoba is slightly higher than Saskatchewan and has a better fiscal capacity than Saskatchewan has.
There is something seriously wrong with that formula. I wish the minister and the parliamentary secretary would understand the essential flaws in putting so much emphasis on non-renewable resources.