With pleasure, Mr. Chair.
We know that last October 3, the Minister of Finance announced new measures regarding mortgage loans and the acquisition of residential property. These measures directly affect first-time purchasers, as well as anyone else who wishes to purchase a home. They may have positive effects, but they may also have effects that are concerning for buyers, banks and real estate brokers.
The measures announced by the Minister of Finance will thus have an impact on a large part of our economy. It would be appropriate, a few months down the road, to measure their impact, so that anyone involved in this area may have a say. Some people think this is an excellent idea, but others have some concerns.
All sectors of the economy are affected by these measures regarding home purchases. They affect thousands of Canadians at all levels of society, from the humblest among us to the better-off. Consequently we should look at this closely.
We don't want to interfere right now with the decision of the minister, but we are all concerned. I'm sure all of us have received some calls in our riding offices—I have in mine—because people want to know more about that and about the impact. Sometimes it's positive, sometimes it's negative, but I think as parliamentarians it's part of our duty, especially as the finance committee, to evaluate the pluses and minuses of any big decision, and as far as I'm concerned, this was a huge one tabled by the minister on October 3. To give Canadians the best knowledge, I hope and think it would be good to have this kind of hearing.