Mr. Speaker, on this World Book and Copyright Day, I should point out that books are one of the finest learning tools and factors in the dissemination of knowledge, as well as an invaluable means of escaping to an imaginary world.
I congratulate and thank all those who work in the book industry and who, despite the omnipresence of the Internet, manage to sustain the public's interest in books.
The government of Quebec has decided to help and promote this means of access to knowledge and to dreaming by eliminating its sales tax on books, whereas the federal government refuses to follow suit with the GST, despite its huge surpluses.
On this day of celebration, let us do as this year's theme suggests and “give a book, give a rose” to properly mark the event and pay tribute to books and their creators.