Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that what we really want is tax reform. Bloc members have been asking for this since they were elected to the House of Commons. We know that an in-depth tax reform is urgently needed.
What we disagree on is how the Minister of Finance proposes to reform the tax system, by appointing friends of the Liberal government whose final report will probably suit the government in place just fine.
This is not tax reform, which should be a much more open process. This committee must include members of the opposition, of the two and even three parties in opposition, to ensure that tax reform is fair to everyone.
To give you a few examples, how come people making around $6,500 still have to pay taxes? These people can barely make ends meet on $6,500 and they must still pay taxes. It is high time that we revised the income tax calculation tables instead of taxing those poor people and then mailing them tax refund cheques to show that people need us. We should have a quick look at this to make things more equitable.
Should we raise the GST? Perhaps. Should we increase GST refund cheques to the poor? Maybe we should do that, too. I do not know but that is the kind of thing requiring an in-depth review.
There are, of course, tax shelters that need to be reviewed seriously without affecting the competitiveness of our businesses. We must, however, ensure that our businesses pay their fair share with respect to tax shelters. We have been demanding for years an in-depth tax reform.
Now that they are in power, the Liberals have started setting up a kind of private club, a private club including friends of the government, whose report will no doubt suit the government just fine. That is not what we want. I think the hon. member should tell people the truth and explain his real intentions. Does he really intend to carry out an in-depth tax reform or to set up a private club of friends of the government, whose report will suit the government in office?