Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Paton, in the brief of the Canadian Association of Chemical Producers, I found a short paragraph that I found to be quite a pleasant surprise. I will tell you why.
Since the beginning of our pre-budget consultations, we have heard from many Canadian organizations. I have noticed a strong tendency, even from some of you here today, to call for a stronger, more centralized government that intervenes as much as possible in provincial jurisdiction, whether we are talking about investments in health, prescription drugs or research.
I have noticed that strong tendency since the beginning of our consultations, whereas in Quebec people are calling for respect for Quebec jurisdiction, a solution to the problem of the fiscal imbalance and respect for the choices that Quebeckers make. I always have the impression that I am going into another country when I go across the border, given how differently people talk about these things.
On page 6 of the brief presented by the Canadian Association of Chemical Producers, there is a paragraph calling for the elimination of the fiscal imbalance.
It is surprising that the first organization to tell the committee that the fiscal imbalance needs to be dealt with is the Canadian Association of Chemical Producers. The association's suggestions that the problem be addressed through tax harmonization or perhaps a transfer of tax points to the provinces are fairly much in line with what Quebec has been calling for.
How did you arrive at that recommendation, which may be closer to what Quebec is seeking and is very different from what we are hearing from the other organizations that have appeared here?