Madam Speaker, I am surprised that the hon. member does not recall the debate a little better. One of the reasons that the Reform Party opposed this was precisely that it raised taxes in Atlantic Canada on the most vulnerable Canadians. As members of the NDP pointed out, in those provinces we were going to see an actual reduction in the cost of a yacht but on essentials like fuel for heating their homes and children's clothing we were going to see increased prices.
How can the member stand there and say that somehow this is a benefit to the people who are most vulnerable in Atlantic Canada? It is absolutely ridiculous.
I also point out to my hon. friend that part of this deal stipulates that it takes only a majority of the provinces to raise the rate for the harmonized sales tax but an absolute unanimity of all the provinces to lower it. In having a debate today about what to do with the fiscal dividend, we would need all the provinces on board to say we are going to lower that rate in order for Canadians to enjoy tax relief from the harmonized sales tax.
Why in the world would people who want to see some tax relief today stand up and support that type of deal when it essentially guarantees they will never see tax relief on the harmonized sales tax front? It is a crazy idea.