Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech.
I took a few notes while he was talking. In his introduction, he said that we need a plan so we can stop waiting and move forward. I agree with him on that.
Then he said we needed to do better without giving more money. The problem with the Canadian federation is what is called the “fiscal imbalance”. The report of the Séguin commission in Quebec showed that the government has long been posting endless surpluses on the backs of the provinces because it was not adequately funding health care. In 2011, the Harper government abolished the 6% escalator for health care subsidies.
My colleagues will say that is Mario, the little federalist from the regions, who is saying that, but it was not me. It was the Parliamentary Budget Officer who said that it would be disastrous if the government did not increase health care funding. Year after year, the provinces will run deficits. The answer to our problem is there.
Is his party willing to commit to increasing health care funding to 35%?