Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Finance.
A Bank of Canada study released today under the Access to Information Act has suggested to the government a number of measures that would increase income tax for families, students and, especially, for the elderly. By substantially reducing the current tax exemption for senior citizens, the Bank of Canada proposes saving a total of $1.8 billion at the expense of the elderly.
Does the minister intend to follow up on these recommendations, which would have the effect of raising income tax for thousands of senior citizens? In other words, is he prepared today to give certain assurances to these senior citizens who are concerned, and rightly so, about these recommendations, revealed just a few weeks before the budget speech?