Thank you, Mr. Chair.
To begin with, Mr. Kyle, I just want to point something out to you for clarification. In conjunction with the GST rate reduction, budget 2006 did in fact increase the excise duties so that cigarettes did not in fact get cheaper, which is very important to me.
You've raised a point that I know would be exceptionally contentious in society, which is to combat the contraband cigarette problem that we're all seeing. In fact, I've heard numbers of it being as much as 25% of the market right now. I've been to reserves where the signs are large and digital, and where there are 24/7 drive-throughs offering 200 cigarettes in a bag for $10. This is a huge problem.
It seems to me that an alternative to trying to shut down the operation would be to shut down people going and getting them, or basically to police the exit of vehicles that are holding contraband cigarettes. What do you think of that type of a proposal? Because I do think that what you're suggesting would be difficult.