Mr. Speaker, today is World Book and Copyright Day. Proclaimed by UNESCO in 1995, this day is inspired by a wonderful Catalan tradition dating back to 1926. On April 23 of each year, people exchange books and roses.
Honouring in its own way this wonderful tradition, the Liberal government persists in maintaining a 7% tax on books, even though the Liberals promised to abolish the GST on reading material during the 1993 election campaign.
On this day celebrating books and authors, the Bloc Quebecois wants to remind the government that books are invaluable treasures for Quebec and Canadian culture. They are also the best way to pass on our knowledge to the next generations. Books—