Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses for being with us today. We hope you and your families are staying safe and healthy during the pandemic, and we greatly appreciate your dedication to public service, whether in Quebec or the federal government.
The NDP voted in favour of this bill at second reading. Mr. Ste-Marie, my friend and a very committed MP, is the sponsor. We agree that there should be a single tax return, provided that jobs are protected. We feel strongly about that. In fact, it was something we were adamant about when the idea of a single tax return was floated in the past.
My first questions are for Mr. Brière.
Thank you very much for participating today, Mr. Brière.
A week ago today, Mr. Therrien, the House leader of the Bloc Québécois, told the committee that, according to the Minister of National Revenue, people in 5,300 jobs in Quebec work on processing federal tax returns. He said that, once the work being duplicated was eliminated, just 44% of those 5,300 people would really be useful. I found that comment troubling. I didn't like hearing it, and I said so at the time. It goes against the spirit of the bill.
That brings me to my first question, Mr. Brière. Would you say only 44% of the 5,300 people in Quebec who process federal income tax returns are really useful?