Finance committee  Nationally they have reviewed that scenario. While it does offer a certain level to those who can afford RRSPs, it doesn't necessarily address the main issue, which is affordable housing--or a more affordable housing type--across the country.

Finance committee  It's certainly also a question of numbers. Our population isn't growing in exorbitant numbers. Our approach has been that you can deal with what you have here on the ground, but we're also dealing with global competitiveness for our skilled labour force. I think the government has to look at the immigration policies for that.

Finance committee  Definitely.

Finance committee  That's right.

Finance committee  With a recent study by CMHC on what is called the capital cost contribution and download fees for municipalities, 20% of our cost of housing in Halifax, HRM, is due to those capital cost contributions. While we recognize that there needs to be a certain amount to new development, what we're asking is that the playing field be levelled.

Finance committee  What was started was a payment reporting system. Quite frankly, all that's done is to put a heavier burden on those of our companies that report, and it's not necessarily addressing the issue of people choosing to not pay tax and to avoid the system altogether. We have no one recommendation.