Madam Speaker, I would have three brief comments to make.
The bill says the headquarters of the agency must be in Ottawa, but, as we know, the financial community is concentrated in Toronto and Montreal, but not necessarily in Ottawa. So what is the advantage?
The agency will be responsible for contracting with the provinces or for implementing agreements between the federal government and the provinces. How many of these tax agreements does the government intend to ask the agency to look after? None, so what is the point?
The Minister of National Revenue will be responsible for the agency. But the minister may delegate his powers, except the power to make regulations. So a non-elected person who is not accountable to this House could be acting on his behalf. The minister would actually be going through this person. I would like the hon. member to comment on this.