Finance Committee on Nov. 25th, 2013

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

I know, but it's important, too, to determine the credibility of witnesses who are appearing before you.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Order, order.

On this, the witnesses are asked to appear here. They're guests of all the committee members and especially of the Chair, so we shall treat them as such.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

How much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

You have about a minute.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Okay.

As far as you're concerned, then, lowering corporate taxes to what we have them set at now, at 15%, is a bad thing? You would advocate increasing them. Is that correct?

[Armine Yalnizyan]

I don't think I have necessarily said that, though I have said in the past personally...and I can't speak for all of my colleagues, because we have diversity of opinion in our organization. But I have said personally that—

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Are you here on your own behalf or on behalf of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives?

[Armine Yalnizyan]

I am here on behalf of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, but no individual carries the entire voice, because as a think tank we do actually have diversity of opinion.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Okay. No, I understand that. So you're here speaking on behalf of the Centre for Policy Alternatives—

[Armine Yalnizyan]

To the best of my ability, yes.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

--but you cannot give the position of the Centre for Policy Alternatives.

[Armine Yalnizyan]

I think most of the people who are associated with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives would think that further reductions in corporate taxes are not—

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Further reductions. Current levels of—

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Okay, last question. A brief response, please.

[Armine Yalnizyan]

The last question being, would I be for or against an increase?

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Yes.

[Armine Yalnizyan]

In corporate taxation? Personally, yes. Corporately, yes.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Not personally. Does the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives stand for an increase in the current corporate taxes?

[Armine Yalnizyan]

Sir, personally, yes. And corporately, yes.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Please answer my question.

[Armine Yalnizyan]

I just did. Twice now.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

No, you didn't. You answered for yourself. I'm asking for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives for which you are appearing here.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Order, order!

[Armine Yalnizyan]

I said personally, yes, and corporately, yes. And that's the third time I'm saying the same thing now, sir.