a fiscal "pressure" on provinces, not admitting directly to the responsibility of the Canadian government. In accepting an amendment to the Throne Speech after the 2004 federal election, the federal Liberals officially acknowledged the reality of the situation. Federal Liberals assert that it is impossible for a true fiscal imbalance to exist, as the provincial governments have access to all the same sources of revenue as the federal government. The problem is not structural, as it was in earlier years, but political. The provincial governments are unwilling to risk their popularity by raising taxes, insisting instead the extra money come from the federal government. The federal Liberals partially blame the situation on the tax cuts introduced by many of the provincial governments. The potential solution advocated by most of the provincial premiers is that the transfer payments from the federal government to the provinces be substantially increased. This has been occurring gradually as the federal government has regularly been increasing its transfer for health care spending. The Bloc Québécois supports Yves Séguin's suggestion that the GST be given to the provinces. Gordon Campbell, the former premier of British Columbia, has proposed that the federal government take over from the provinces the responsibility for programs that provide pharmaceutical products to low-income people, the elderly and people with disabilities. See also Fiscal imbalance Politics of Quebec Politics of Canada 2003 Quebec general election 2004 Canadian federal election Economy of Canada Federalism References External links Fiscal Imbalance Debate: Origins and Perspectives | Mapleleafweb.com Canadian governments Compared Fiscal federalism Political terminology in Canada Government finances in Canada