Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First of all, I too would like to welcome our colleague Mr. MacDonald, who has just returned from his constituency. We all grieve for the people of Prince Edward Island, the other maritime provinces and eastern Quebec. Our hearts go out to them. I am pleased to be able to greet my colleague.
Mr. Jacques and Mr. Ammar, thank you for being here. As I say to your boss every time he comes to the committee, I take my hat off to you and thank you for the important work you do. It is so important to be able to rely on such rigorous and objective analyses as yours. So I say well done and thank you, and wish you well in the future.
I read with interest your report on the impact of Bill C‑30. It is very well done and, to me, everything is clear.
You said you are currently working on an analysis of Bill C‑31. I would like to share my concerns with you about this bill to see if you can take them into account in your analysis. I am concerned: I wonder if the people of Quebec will be assured of receiving their fair share.
Bill C‑31 has two parts, one of which concerns rental assistance. This assistance is provided through the one-time supplement to the Canada Housing Benefit. People in Quebec do not receive this benefit. We have our own program under the right to opt out with compensation. Can we assume that people in Quebec would have to apply for a cheque only once? Will they apply in large numbers, when they are often people who have less income and are less adept at all the forms like this? In other words, can people in Quebec expect to get their fair share? Indeed, as currently drafted, Bill C‑31 does not include any provision mentioning that the system is different in Quebec.
The other part of the bill deals with the issue of dental care. Bill C‑31 provides assistance in this regard that applies to children 11 and under, whereas in Quebec, dental care is covered for children 9 and under. When officials were asked about the application of this program to Quebeckers, they said that if no money was paid out, Quebeckers would not receive a cheque; if money was paid out for care not covered by the dental plan, they would receive a cheque, as is the case in the other provinces. Again, the programs aren't tied in, so can we expect people in Quebec to get their fair share?
I don't know if you have any comments on this or if you'd rather take notes, but for now, I'm listening.