From the Canadian CED Network, one of their statements is that estimated cost of poverty to society in Canada is between $24 billion and $30 billion annually. This is a very large number and of course it's a significant challenge.
What it draws to my memory, though, Mr. Chairman, is that it sounds like about the same estimate of the underground economy in Canada and what it costs. Because of the stimulus program, I want to ask if anybody has any comments about one of these areas, about throwing a lot of money out there and getting a lot of people coming in and out of the business: it appears that one of the realities is that everybody gets two quotes for a job, one with GST and one without. That is the underground economy operating and we know it.
If people had an incentive to get the invoice with the GST charged, if they were eligible for a refundable tax credit of the GST paid, it would bring in businesses that have been working under the radar. I wonder if you think that something like that, or any effort whatsoever, should be addressed now on the underground economy so that we have the resources necessary for many of the programs that you've raised here.