Mr. Speaker, the member misstates it. This is not an equality system. This is a system of equalization.
If we wanted an equality system, then we would simply eliminate all provincial jurisdictions and there would be only one jurisdiction in Canada, the national government. Money would then be distributed on a per capita basis. It would be pretty simple that way.
As long as there are provincial jurisdictions, there will be differences in fiscal capacity. That is true in Saskatchewan, in Ontario and in Newfoundland.
The hon. member said that he could make a cogent argument. I have been listening to him and I have not heard it. All I know is that Saskatoon, for instance, has a triple A credit rating with respect to its situation. Regina has a very good credit rating as well. Recently Saskatoon was the beneficiary of the synchrotron, probably one of the largest science projects going on in this country now.
I know that the government of Saskatchewan is running at a balance. I do not know where the member gets his 34% versus 25%. My 25% came from the national accounts.
On all of the numbers, I would respectfully suggest that he has not made his cogent argument. In fact, he fails to make a cogent argument that somehow or another Saskatchewan should be treated somewhat differently from all the rest of the provinces.