Madam Chair, I will use my time to ask the Minister of Finance some questions and listen to her responses.
The budget provides for more than $150 billion in investments. Before the budget was tabled, Quebec had just one demand: an increase in federal health transfers that would cover 35% of expenses. There are sound reasons for this, in light of the health, social and economic crisis we have been facing for many months as a result of the pandemic. The government rejected Quebec's one demand.
How did the government respond? It responded by investing in national long-term care standards and interfering in home support programs, which is not what Quebec asked for. In fact, quite the opposite.
Why did the minister not respond, with this budget, to the very important demand for increased federal health transfers?