It would be helpful, but I do have a concern with respect to a sunset clause. I'm certainly mindful of the difference between our form of government and the American form of government. But when I see the mess the Americans have gotten into with sequestration, creating something where everyone would do everything so that it would not occur and yet it does occur.... At least now, with comfort letters, one has the virtual certainty that the comfort letters will eventually be adopted.
If, for the sake of argument, a comfort letter would only be outstanding for two or three years unless legislation was brought in.... Many deals are now done in Canada based on comfort letters, knowing that eventually they will be given effect to, and generally with retroactive application. If there was a possibility, because of a sunset provision, that this might be retiré, I wonder if the cure could be worse than the disease. But anything that could expedite Finance's drafting of the legislation and parliamentary review would obviously be helpful.