I should also remind you that the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance recommended in its report that the changes made to private corporation taxation be revoked in their entirety.
Facilitating and increasing SMEs' access to federal government contracts could significantly increase businesses' competitiveness. To that end, we are currently working with the federal government's supplier advisory committee.
In our opinion, current changes being made to the CanadaBuys web portal in terms of information and access to public tenders are a step in the right direction.
However, we believe that the new portal needs a more proactive information strategy for businesses. Let us not forget that smart tenders bring innovation and help our businesses, including Quebec ones.
Moreover, the Government of Canada should have a better plan to encourage SMEs to look to export markets by promoting the advantages and terms of our various trade agreements. The government should set a target for the number of businesses who are exporting for the first time and who would benefit from services or financial assistance.
The lack of information on the advantages provided by the trade agreements is a soft spot that SMEs regularly mention. SMEs feel that the government should offer them better post-sale services. Despite the supports that are already in place, the information does not always seem to reach SMEs as efficiently as they would hope.
The government should be more proactive in letting businesses know about the advantages of our trade agreements as well as the benefits that they could reap by conquering Asian and European markets, especially by helping them during their first forays into export markets.
Monday's budget does provide support for clean technology exports in conjunction with work done with Export Development Canada, or EDC, but more could be done.
Finally, we still have the outstanding problem of Quebec businesses having to file two income tax returns, which is a distinct disadvantage.
Quebec is the only province in which businesses have to file two income tax returns and sometimes pay thousands of dollars in extra costs. Quebec says it's Ottawa's problem, and Ottawa says it's Quebec's.
We hope that the federal government and Quebec will finally sit down at the table and hammer out a solution that works for both jurisdictions and that allows Quebeckers to file one single tax return every year. There are different options on the table. Taxation harmonization would allow both governments to save public funds and better serve the taxpayer.
In conclusion, we would like to thank you again for inviting us. The FCCQ encourages our elected officials to follow up on our recommendations for increasing business competitiveness.
Thank you.