In the same way, in the U.S., municipal bonds have often been seen as attractive investments, especially because of their tax benefits, since they are ways to finance public works that are of general interest. That is something that could be transposed here, given the interest to build sustainably for future generations, rather than to leave them with the sizeable deficits we see today. We can take the money that is available and build something that will be of use to them, including clean and renewable energy.
Mr. Van Iterson, it is a pleasure to see you again. Like we have just done with Mr. Weis, I simply wanted to ask you a question and allow you to share with us your analysis. Twenty years ago, Porter's hypothesis reminded us that it was possible to implement environmental regulations while making our society more effective and productive. According to Porter's hypothesis, environmental rules lead to greater effectiveness. And yet we are still stuck in a reasoning that opposes economic development and respect for the environment. That is passé, that is what people a generation ago thought, but we do not seem able to go beyond that.
Year after year, the Green Budget Coalition does remarkable work. If someone came up to me and asked what to read to understand the future, how to make sense of what is being done in terms of the environment and how to envisage the future, I would suggest they read the document that you publish every year. It is that clear.
How come Canadians are still in the grip of a debate opposing economic development and environmental protection, as if the two could not go hand-in-hand?