The verbal battle grew a little noisier in Parliament today in the ongoing dispute about how Newfoundland actually fared in last week's federal budget.

Though now a have-province, Newfoundland nevertheless maintains it will lose federal transfer money because the proposed changes to the equalization formula will cut into the province's revenues under the offshore oil agreement, the so-called Atlantic Accord.

Rosemary Barton

As a result, some Liberal MPs, particularly those from the Rock, have been struggling with how they can support the budget, which their leader wants, and still try to bring about some kind of change.

In the House, as Finance Minister Jim Flaherty rose to answer yet another question on the subject, Gerry Byrne, a Liberal MP from Newfoundland, yelled questions at the minister making it hard to hear the answer.

Flaherty finally snapped back: "I know screech is a product of Newfoundland."

Screech, as well as being a way to scream, happens to be a potent type of alcohol available only in Newfoundland and which is offered to guests on their first visit to the province. Visitors are "screeched in," they say.

It was not entirely clear from his answer which version of the term the finance minister was referring to. But no screech of the liquid variety was spotted in Parliament today.