Madam Speaker, last week we saw the premier of Saskatchewan single-handedly destroy any chance of getting an immediate equalization deal for our province. Throughout the week he gave a seminar on how not to succeed in Ottawa.
Monday he made promises he could not possibly keep when he showed up declaring he was here to get a new deal. He said that he was not going home until he got one. He even brought extra socks.
Tuesday he displayed his political ineptness when he attacked his only allies. The Conservative MPs from Saskatchewan have made equalization an issue in Ottawa. We need to work together.
Wednesday he disappeared, perhaps to wash his socks.
Thursday he panicked. Knowing that he could not get an equalization deal, he started dealing for second best.
Friday he gave up and headed home.
Saturday he demonstrated the results of poor negotiating when he bravely tried to convince our province that pennies are the same as dollars.
Our province has been betrayed. This federal Liberal finance minister has no intention of giving Saskatchewan a fair equalization deal. It is time the premier acknowledged that.