Good morning, Mr. Chair.
I would like to say hello to my colleagues and thank all the senior officials for being with us to answer our questions.
I have numerous questions. Unfortunately, in preparing them, I didn't distinguish between the parts of Bill C‑47. If any of my questions happen to relate to part 4, I apologize in advance.
In fact, I am going to start with a question about part 4, so you can pass it on to your colleagues who will answer it later, at an upcoming meeting. It concerns division 31, which makes “Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Canada.”
I would like your colleagues to be able to check the section of the equivalent legislation, as it was worded the last time. I imagine we go back to the era of Queen Elizabeth II and the clause was submitted to Parliament in an omnibus budget implementation bill, toward the end of the bill. I would therefore like your colleagues to prepare an answer to my question for the next meeting. I would appreciate it.
My first question concerns both part 1 and part 4. Last Wednesday, we adopted Bill C‑46 at all stages. We have therefore doubled the amount of the GST credit, which we are calling the “grocery rebate”, even though groceries are not taxable, and the $2 billion in health transfers to the provinces.
Bill C‑46 was adopted at all stages on Wednesday. Bill C‑47, which provides for the same amounts, was introduced in the House of Commons on Thursday.
If Bill C‑47 is adopted without being amended, for example by removing those parts, we are going to find ourselves with two GST credits and an additional $2 billion for the provinces.
Is that correct?
Thank you.