Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First, I would like to begin by congratulating the minister on this budget. I'd like to let him know that on the day following his tabling of the budget, a major newspaper in my riding featured the headline “Promises kept”. I think that's a very significant statement by the media with respect to this budget.
On a personal note, I would also like to thank him. As a person who lost his father to cancer, several uncles, an aunt, I appreciate his funding of the Canadian Cancer Society's cancer strategy, as well as the immense commitment demonstrated to the agricultural community, which will benefit people in my riding. The corporate securities transfer for charities is also something that has been receiving very positive play in my riding. A lot of charities have come to me and talked about its significance, including our new hospital project.
I was going to talk specifically about the GST and the reduction of the GST. There's been some suggestion that we have an economy with a lot of retail stimulus and so forth and it doesn't really need an additional retail stimulant. I'll tell you, as somebody who owns a retail establishment, specifically in the auto industry, we're not finding that at all.
Perhaps you could speak to the types of savings.... In fact, I did also talk to my local hospital and they indicated that every percentage cut in the GST will actually save them about $65,000 per point. That is enough to employ an additional nurse. There are benefits for each and every Canadian within that. Maybe you could speak to that a little bit.