Madam Speaker, first I want to assure the hon. member that Canadians do not treat Quebec with disdain. I am sure most Canadians would agree that Quebec is a very important part of a united Canada and that we all share, enjoy and own a piece of every part of Canada.
In his comments the member, as other Bloc members have, talked significantly about the issue of some sort of a subsidy or the billion dollars. I am wondering whether the member is aware of the facts concerning the three provinces that are harmonizing. Just to refresh his memory, in Newfoundland and Labrador the current provincial rate is 12 per cent. The combined federal-provincial rate is 19.84 per cent and when it is reduced down to 15 per cent it is a savings of 4.84 per cent or a reduction in provincial revenues of 4.84 per cent. Similarly for Nova Scotia it is a 3.77 per cent reduction in provincial revenues. For New Brunswick the reduction is 3.77.
In Quebec the combined rate is 13.96 per cent. The member will quickly appreciate that there was a significant loss of revenue to those three provinces. Quebec harmonized on a voluntary basis in advance of everyone else. The member knows that Quebec has benefited significantly particularly in terms of its exports because of the harmonized sales tax in Quebec of 13.96 per cent.
Is the member aware of the differential in the combined rates? Does he understand that the subsidies are not an indication of disdain for Quebec but rather a reflection of the adjustment or equalization of the revenue realities to the provinces involved?