Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague from Joliette for his excellent speech, although there is much more to say.
We are talking about equalization. As a member representing a riding, I strongly believe in equalization, which is the distribution of wealth throughout this large country that is Canada.
However, I am surprised to see that non-renewable natural resources, which represent considerable wealth—such as the oil sands development in the west, which is so wealthy that there is a labour shortage—are included at only 50% in the distribution.
We are fortunate in Quebec to have renewable natural resources, but these resources are not included at their full value. Furthermore, the federal government has done nothing to support their development, unlike the development of the oil sands, which is still benefiting from the government's generosity.
I am even more surprised when I read newspapers from across Canada. For example, an excerpt from the Edmonton Sun states that, for decades, every Quebec premier has exploited the federal government to Quebec's advantage. I am surprised to see that Canadians who are benefiting from this fiscal generosity and from the wealth of natural resources still feel that Quebec is taking advantage of this system. I would like my colleague from Joliette, who has a good grasp of the entire tax system, to elaborate on this.