Mr. Speaker, the equalization program has a name that should show what should be honoured in this program, namely equalization. The side deals that were negotiated by the former Prime Minister, promised by the former Prime Minister and finally put into place under much pressure, destroyed the equal part of equalization. There is no question about that. The member knows that. It made the program not the same for everyone and removed the same standard for everyone. That was unfair to people right across this country.
Nevertheless, as I have said repeatedly, we will and do fully respect that because it was a deal that was made, a deal that was signed, and a deal that was fully respected. Now if the leaders in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia can get a side deal, even though it could destroy the equality of a particular program, no one is going to criticize them for that.
However, it must be recognized that national leadership requires that there is no skewing of programs, that the equal in equalization is returned and reinstated because all Canadians depend on this kind of fairness and equality. That is what our government has done.
I ask the members opposite, are they against equal? Are they against fairness? Are they against the same standard for all? That is what they have to answer and they are not doing that.