Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak today in the context that my hon. colleague for Calgary Centre has just alluded to.
I do not know if he is an expert on the GST or matters of taxation. I certainly did not believe that the hon. member was one who felt it was important to recognize that there is one taxpayer and at the same time not move toward something that is both symbolically and realistically an attempt at addressing the fact that the one taxpayer deserves a one tax system in this country.
It compels me to wonder and worry aloud about the hon. member and the other member from the third party, the hon. member for Simcoe Centre who spoke very passionately, although not necessarily always accurately on this very important debate of C-70 with respect to the harmonization of the GST. If the hon. member and his colleague who spoke earlier believe in this issue so strongly, it is unfortunate that they may not be able to join us here in the next Parliament. I know there are problems in that party and they are not just the problems evidenced by some of their policy issues they have had in the past. I think it is abundantly evident with this issue of the GST.
The name of my riding, Ontario, is fitting certainly in the context of the debate. I believe the hon. colleague who spoke before me was completely wrong when he said that this is about politics.
The record will show that the current premier of Ontario, Mike Harris, was very emphatic the day before he was elected in June 1995, that he would work with the federal government to harmonize and to make a better sales tax regime in this country. I know that may be hard for my friends in the third party to recognize. I see them shaking their heads, probably because they are not sure whether the Harris government is a Conservative government or a Reform government. Either way, we know it is a hopeless government.
When discussing the issue of taxation there are very few opportunities to discuss it in the context of virtue. Everybody has their own idea on taxation. All of us in this country would not want to pay taxes or would want to minimize them.
The experience in Ontario is a telling one that I want to relate to my friends in the third party. Budget cuts based on the presumption of reducing taxes are being made to the direct detriment of the poor, the people who are the most defenceless in our society and people who do not have an agenda to hurt other people.
There are politics and policies and there are dangerous politics and dangerous policies. I suggest any party that wants to undertake an ideological view of their politics with respect to taxation must first take into account that one of the most symbolic, rallying points of our nationhood is our ability to look out for the weak, the defenceless and those in our society who through no fault of their own find themselves at the low end of the scale. This consumption tax, the tax to be blended in the maritime provinces, is a positive step forward. It takes into account the recognition that there is indeed one taxpayer.
A very important point is that it takes into account from an international perspective examples of consumption taxes in those countries with one single sales tax regime, one retail sales tax regime. We have spoken to the chambers of commerce and the boards of trade in my riding and across the country. We must make sure that we do not have 13 or 14 different sales tax regimes such as we currently have.
If members are truly interested in representing the interests of their constituents they would be working beyond and above to transcend the politics on which this debate seems to founder to one of trying to find a co-operative, harmonious approach. I believe the best way for us to do that is to follow through on taxation, but taxation that permits individuals at the end of the day to have a system that is far more efficient and that makes more sense for business and consumer alike.
I have had over 46 public forums in my riding since I was elected. That is virtually one for every month that I was elected. It seems to me that while there are those who would like to make the GST a big issue and certainly there is plenty of cannon fodder on both sides for that, I do not think there is anyone in this House who has not given that subject some consideration or who has not been outspoken on that issue.
The far greater and more important problem is the one of getting our financial house in order and at the same time making sure that we can provide an environment that helps people get back to work. Anything else in my view, and I think in the view of those in my riding, is simply nonsense.
While it is important for a government to proceed with the question of harmonizing these taxes, I think credit must be given where credit is due. The Minister of Finance, in concert with the people who worked on the committee on both sides, have tried to hammer out the best of all worlds in a situation where we understand that the current sales tax regime is not one that is acceptable to people.
The hon. member just yelled something. I am not exactly sure what it is he said but that is very consonant with the views of his party.
The arguments in favour of a sales tax are one, we certainly appreciate-
We could perhaps for the first time discuss getting rid of taxes in this country. In a perfect world, people can always make that kind of promise. In my opinion, however, a responsible government, a government that wants to show leadership, has to manage its affairs so that, at the end of the day, it can honour its commitments and be accountable to the consumers we represent. It must do everything in its power to build a tax system that protects the interests of both consumers and entrepreneurs.
In the case of the Atlantic provinces, we are looking at both sides of the question: will harmonization mean that a range of goods will be taxed that would not be taxed without harmonization? I think we have the ability to make arrangements to ensure that these people will be protected.
We also have the ability to find a balance. This balance exists in paying a tax which is not 7 per cent plus 8 per cent, that is 15 per cent, but is somewhere around 12 or 13 per cent, as in the maritimes.
This Parliament has undertaken many contentious issues. There will be many more in the days to come. The GST, the harmonization of the tax with provincial taxes is an excellent first step, but I hope that the House and those who are seeking to make political points and profiting from the rhetoric understand fully that they are profiting at the direct expense of individuals, of people in our constituencies across the country who expect leadership and expect
us at the end of the day to do what is right. Doing what is right is trying to do what people expect you to do.
Harmonization is an excellent first step but it requires the provinces to get on line. Let us not break down on the question and the subject of partisanship. Mr. Harris, I am calling on you this evening, as they have done in the province of Ontario to do the same.