Let me start off by saying that I, personally, am not an income tax expert. As an association, we advocate on behalf of our members with respect to international trade topics that are more in line with the actual trading of commodities and services as opposed to income tax.
I don't know. I haven't read all the minutes from previous witnesses. But I'm sure there could be other associations that could more appropriately answer the specific tax question.
On the trading of commodities and services question, and putting the tax question aside, the tax information exchange agreement I was talking about is currently being discussed between the United States and Panama, not Canada and Panama, that I'm aware of.
Again, at this conference I was at, Secretary Locke seemed to feel it was an important step forward. He publicly stated that they were interested in looking at a free trade agreement. That is the context in which I put forward those comments, as opposed to any income tax.
Relative to the position our association takes on behalf of our members, we don't look at income tax issues. Based on the free trade of commodities and services, and strictly within that forum, we do support Bill C-46.