Mr. Speaker, the provinces particularly in western Canada have asked me for such an agency. They have been saying they want to play a role in the agency. When I met with the ministers from Saskatchewan and Manitoba they asked for such an agency, and we are responding to them.
When the HST was signed in the maritimes one of the requests those provinces made was to have an agency in which they would have a say. We are responding to the provinces. Of course we do not have an agency until we pass the legislation. They want to see what the final wording is. They want to make sure they know exactly what they are getting.
I have had very good meetings with ministers of finance across the country. They have said it is the right direction because they understand the needs of the business community. They understand the needs of Canadians. They know we have to respond to the changes in Canada. We have to respond to the new realities, and that is what the agency is all about.