Mr. Speaker, during his meeting with his provincial counterparts, the federal Minister of Finance carefully avoided discussing the issue of the GST replacement which, according to the commitment made in the red book, should normally be implemented next year. I would ask him to reread the red book, since the commitment was made in it.
My question is for the Minister of Finance. Will the minister concede that he refused to discuss the issue of reforming the GST because Alberta, and especially Quebec, want nothing to do with a national sales tax that would limit their freedom to tax when Ottawa is also preparing to reduce transfer payments to the provinces?