Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the speech of the member for Oak Ridges. When he was president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities he certainly listened well and he did a very good job.
I have a problem with his statement that the government believes in being fair and equitable. How can the federal government see itself as being equal to every other taxpayer in the country when it thinks it should be exempt from paying taxes?
I contacted people at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities yesterday to talk to them about Bill C-10. To my surprise, they informed me that they had no idea the bill had come back to the House. I know for a fact that it has taken at least three years for the government to take action on some of the recommendations the FCM made to it.
I would like the hon. member for Oak Ridges to respond to the question of fairness and equality as between the federal government and Canadian taxpayers. As well, why was the FCM not informed that the bill would be tabled in the House this week?