"Oliver was non-committal. Instead, he used the opportunity to again call on the provinces to follow the federal government's lead and get their fiscal houses in order."

Fiscal house means budget and that is balanced by neglecting infrastructures in the country, among many other social aspects.

Is that an equitable solution and provinces need to follow that lead?

We see first hand consequences in the Ring, and northern Ontario as a whole for decades.

Jmho.