Mr. Speaker, I did not think I would have a couple of minutes to address this topic. I do not have a lot to express, but I have had constituents come to me and I would like to raise a matter with the House.
The primary concern that people have had with the bill that is before the House and the regulations of the Internet and so on is that this is simply the tip of the iceberg. The concern is that these regulations are the beginning of an attempt to regulate commerce over the Internet in such a way as to discourage entrepreneurs in Canada. That is a key point.
People are really concerned that when we begin to meddle in this the intention may be good at the beginning, but these regulations will discourage entrepreneurs in Canada. It will somehow force those who want to do business over the Internet to establish themselves outside Canada.
We need the assurances of the government that it is not heading in this direction.
Furthermore, the other concern they express is that when we begin to regulate, at some point we may begin to tax. This may be the tip of the iceberg. There may be taxes coming down the pike that would tax the various transactions that are going to take place over the Internet, especially economic transactions. This is a concern of people and I have to raise that concern. I am glad I have had a few moments to do that.
I understand the debate is about to collapse, but my constituents would not want to see trade and commerce over the Internet hampered by what might be at this point an innocuous attempt to bring in a tax that would begin to discourage entrepreneurs from using the Internet to transact all kinds of transactions.