Mr. Speaker, the member who has just spoken on behalf of the Bloc has raised the issue which the Bloc has raised since the outset of the discussion on the harmonized sales tax, which is the demand for compensation.
I want to ask the member if he is aware of the input tax credit situation with regard to the provincial component. The fact is that Quebec effectively harmonized its federal and provincial taxes some time ago. By moving toward a common base it has effectively broadened the tax base for the provincial side and is now taxing more at a provincial level which means that it has the same impact as tax points or the transfer of tax points to the ability to tax.
On that basis alone, it would appear to me that the taxing authority within the province of Quebec because of the harmonization move has generated it billions and billions of dollars of additional revenues which it otherwise would not have received. Would the member not agree that the harmonization in Quebec, which was done some time ago, has generated billions and billions of dollars to the provincial coffers which were not available to other provinces?