Thank you, Minister, for coming before us today.
I respect you as an economist and have some questions for you based on some of the costing, particularly of the carbon tax that was announced yesterday.
I just want to start by talking about Joe and Jane Taxpayer. They make about $75,000 a year, taking home about $40,000 a year. They have a mortgage of $2,000 per month, including municipal taxes; a car payment of about $500; an electricity bill of $400; a water bill of $100; a grocery bill of $800; and a fuel bill of $200. There is nothing left at that particular point.
As the minister charged with a poverty reduction strategy in Canada, has there been a discussion with the Prime Minister on a carbon tax? There is no money left to pay for it. I just want to know your response to that, Minister.