Good morning to everyone.
When I look at the tax system, for me it's always a balance between a progressive tax system and a tax system that's efficient, or I can use the word efficacy. I think over the last number of years, especially over the last 10 years, the tax system has become much more complicated and much more convoluted, and I think that simplifying the tax system is always a good thing, but it's always a balance between progressivity and the efficacy of the tax system.
Personally, I don't think we need to go back to the 1960s or 1970s when marginal tax rates were 70%, and I think during the 1960s they were at 90%. I don't think that's a good thing, but I think that, where we have it right now, there is a good balance. We've achieved a balance in the progressive tax system.
Much like my colleague Mr. MacKinnon, I have argued for the need to take a look at our tax system, but I think that also encompasses looking at retirement and so forth, how people are retiring, and the big picture.
Mr. Zorn, starting with you, I've read your report. Very quickly, I see that you've graded our establishment of the new Canada child tax benefit with an A in reducing inequality. If I'm reading your graph correctly, it's about a 1.75, so you've graded it an A. I believe you've also graded the increase in the GIS for seniors living alone, and you've also given that an A-, if I'm not mistaken.