Mr. Speaker, if I can just finish my speech, my colleague will get all of the information he is looking for.
In keeping with its approach to fiscal balance, the government will make interim payments in 2009-10 to ensure that the provinces' equalization payments for this year will not be less than those for 2008-09. Overall, equalization will remain fair thanks to these changes.
I would like to mention a few important numbers to back that up. In 2009-10, principal transfer payments will amount to $49.1 billion—the highest ever. In 2009-10, under the equalization program, the provinces will receive $14.2 billion compared to $13.5 billion in 2008-09. Besides the additional $723 million—