Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.
We are bearing the consensus. The Bloc Québécois is often blamed for thinking this way or that way, for preventing this, that or the other from happening, for opposing the budget. In a nutshell, the Bloc is often said to be the problem.
Let us take a look at the two issues under consideration. We are representing the consensus at large achieved at the Quebec National Assembly on these two issues. I cannot understand that the member for Lévis—Bellechasse, an elected member from Quebec, does not get the Quebec consensus.
Members from Quebec have a responsibility when they come to Ottawa. They have to reflect what the reality is in Quebec. At present, these two issues make no sense. Only by achieving sovereignty could Quebec see things turn around. Quebec sends $50 billion in tax revenue to the federal government. Equalization is calculated based on revenues received by the federal government, which are then redistributed among the provinces. It would take too long today to explain the method used to calculate equalization. Suffice it to say that it is as if we were getting a handout. No wonder people are exasperated with that system. We have to come and beg for money we already gave to the federal government.