Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for St. Boniface for his questions and especially his last point, which I will comment, but only after I have answered his questions in sequence.
First of all, the hon. member asked whether we agree with this bill. As a matter of fact, it will pass at second reading whether we agree or not. We will support the principle of this legislation, but we will examine the bill clause by clause in committee and ask very specific questions. Third reading will come afterwards. That is the way it goes. This bill will be referred to the Finance Committee, a committee which always has a busy schedule, but it will only be one more piece of legislation on a heavy agenda.
Now he wants to know what our position is compared to the Reform Party's. I think I see what he is getting at. Do we consider that reducing tax shelters is different from raising taxes? I think that was the thrust of his question.
There could be a difference, except that, on the whole, we are collecting more revenues. One day, we will have to agree on a definition of tax increase. Traditionally it means increasing the consumption and income taxes. Can we say, however, that reducing tax shelters and fiscal incentives is in effect a tax increase? This is debatable, but the results are the same: more revenues for the government.
In some instances, we will agree with a given tax shelter; in others, we will not. We will study them one by one.
If we compare the tax returns for Quebec and for Ottawa, we see that they are both complex, because there are two governments involved. That is very important.
In Quebec, Mr. Yves Séguin tried very hard to simplify the tax returns, but there is still a lot to be done. We often talk about administrative overlap, but there is one thing that drives people crazy. Let me assure you that Quebec's sovereignty will have a great benefit in people's daily life, if only for the fact that they will only have one tax return to fill.
Overall, the figures may not change much, but it would be a lot simpler. The individuals will feel better, as will the businesses, and that will be a great step forward, one we have never been able to take so far.
We will not have to hear a lot of rhetoric about harmonization all year long, without ever achieving it.
In closing, I want to speak about access to capital. I tell the hon. member that we will have to see what the government will do. The federal and the provincial governments tend to offer more and more assistance programs to businesses, including the business development centres. There are even regional investment funds. We hear people talking about putting more pressure on financial institutions, but what will happen?