Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions that were collected over the last few weeks.
The first petition was submitted by residents of Blue River, Avola, Birch Island, Vavenby, Darfield, Little Fort and Clearwater and has to do with the GST.
The petitioners point out that although it was a promise in the last election campaign to abolish the GST, the GST still remains. It is taking a lot of money out of people's pockets and they want the government to reconsider proceeding with the GST, whether it is harmonized or not.
Mr. Speaker, another petition, primarily from the residents of Kamloops, points out the problems with the GST as it applies to reading and the literacy levels in Canada.
The petitioners ask Parliament to zero rate books, magazines and newspapers under the GST. They ask provincial and federal governments to zero rate reading materials under the proposed harmonized sales tax.
The petitioners point out that a tax on reading is something that should be avoided.