Mr. Speaker, I heard a different proverb from my father in my youth, one about losing sight of the forest for the trees. I think that this is what our colleague, the hon. member for Outremont and minister responsible for regional development in Quebec, is doing.
I have great respect for my colleague, but I wonder how well he knows the issue of harmonizing. If he had paid any attention to the analyses we have submitted to him, he would have realized that the GST is an issue that needs to be considered globally. A global look at what the fiscal situation was before harmonization, in 1989, and after harmonization, in 1991, shows that taxation adjustments had to made to absorb the transitional costs associated with this harmonization.
The hon. member referred to an increase in revenues. I am sorry, but these revenues do not come from the federal government. They come from the taxpayers who were forced to pay more, to pay for the transition to a harmonized system, actually. This is the reality.
So, respectfully, will he admit that the suggestion made this morning by the Bloc Quebecois is totally non-partisan? It provides that the government should appoint three experts. The first one would be appointed by the federal government, the second one by the Quebec government, and the third one jointly by the first two, so as to have an objective review that would protect Quebec's interests, which so concern the member for Outremont, because there is a lot at stake here.
So, I ask. If the hon. member is protecting Quebec's interests, might it not be a good idea to make representations to his minister and to convince him?