Madam Speaker, I listened with intent to the hon. member for Mercier and also the last intervener.
The harmonization of the GST is a positive thing economically. I will give one example. My riding is highly influenced by General Motors which pays provincial sales tax on its input costs. When it exports it does not get a relieving provision which is what the GST basically does.
It means that the costs for automobiles manufactured in Ontario and landed in the United States are greater than for those produced in St. Therese, Quebec, for instance.
The fact that Quebec harmonized the GST quickly gave it a tremendous economic advantage. If there is anyone who should receive compensation I would argue that it is the laggers such as my own province, which has refused to move into the area of harmonization. The Quebec economy has received great economic advantage for doing that early.
I wonder if that is part of the calculation, how much benefit has been realized from looking forward to export trade which Quebec has already received by harmonizing quickly.