Mr. Speaker, when the hon. member calls me a minister, I am sure he is thinking ahead and not just thinking behind.
It is interesting that the comments we are hearing from the opposition members are not those from members from Newfoundland and Labrador or Nova Scotia. The member claims he understands this. I do not think he understands the accords one bit. I was there. I took part in the negotiations. I had the honour of signing on behalf of the Government of Canada. I know what those accords said.
The accords said that these new agreements would apply, that these provisions would apply to any new equalization program, no matter how it changed. What the government has said in the budget is that the province can either have the accords or the new equalization, but not both. It will not apply the accords to the new equalization program. The government broke its commitment.
I am not surprised that members from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador on that side of the House do not have the temerity to come in here and take part in this debate.