Mr. Speaker, in a report published today, the National Council of Welfare launched a stinging condemnation of the Canada social transfer. According to the report, this brainchild of the Minister of Finance was the worst initiative in 30 years because it threatened to destroy the very foundation of social services and programs in Canada. According to the Council, the reform of transfer payments would inevitably lead to a reduction in spending on social assistance.
My question is of course directed to the father of this brainchild, the Minister of Finance.
Does the minister agree, as the Council stated, that by reducing federal contributions to social programs funding, the Canada social transfer will cause the provinces to reduce their budgets for social assistance and make the most vulnerable in our society even poorer?