We cannot get from A to B all the time by drawing a straight line. That is the simple way to look at problems. Sometimes one has to go over hurdles and around obstacles. That is what we are doing as a government. We are tackling the issues that face us each step of the way as we move toward the goal of harmonizing these two levels of taxes.
What are the benefits to Canadians? Let us start with the business sector, particularly small and medium size business. Now each of these businesses faces reporting both federal and provincial sales taxes, two sets of records and the possibility of having to be audited by two separate levels of government. Many businesses are operated by one or two people. They are very small operations where every hour spent on government red tape is an hour taken away from productivity, an hour taken away from selling more goods or providing service to their customers. To the extent that we can reduce the time commitment that any business person, especially the small business owner, has to government paperwork is something that we are adding toward the productivity of this country.
Therefore, I do not understand how the opposition can argue on one side, as it said in its minority report, that we should get to a harmonized situation, but on the other side it says that we should not tackle each step along the way with bigger creativity and determination. That is what leadership is all about and that is why I believe Canadians give us their support in October 1993. I trust when they look at the government closely again in the next election campaign they will feel that our leadership is what this country needs.
No government is perfect, there is no question about that. If we were perfect it would be the first time, I am sure, that any government in the world was perfect.
Besides the elimination of red tape, consumers will not only benefit from the fact that the costs of running a business will be reduced, but over time it will be reflected in the prices because the small business operator will be able to cut down his or her costs.
I happen to be one who believes in tax included pricing at the retail level, but tax included pricing with full disclosure on the receipt at the cash register. We heard, over and over again, that the concept of sticker shock or counter shock was hurting consumption. Canadians will like the idea that they can see something on the shelf that is priced at $10, go to the cash register, put down $10 and know that they have paid the full amount due for that commodity.
On the receipt will be disclosure of the amount of harmonized GST and PST that is in the product. That is fair. It will have the
positive impact on consumers that we need to have in this country to ensure the fullest level of employment possible.
We have been accused of saying that we would totally abolish, scrap the GST. I refer colleagues across the way to page 22 in what I call the well read book. Page 22 says that we will move toward harmonization of the provincial and federal sales taxes. That is what I said in my campaign. That is what I said door to door. I never varied from that commitment. As a member of the finance committee, along with my colleagues on this side of the House, we are taking steps in that direction.
It is the job of the opposition to try to divert attention but the fact remains that a responsible government knows that people cannot take $15, $16 or $17 billion of revenue and throw it out the window. A responsible government also does not promise to have a broad base tax cut that it knows cannot be afforded at this time-