Mr. Speaker, at the time the last federal budget was brought down, the Mining Association of Canada said that, in the end, eliminating the resource allowance would lead to a definite increase in taxes paid by the mining industry. The federal government has once again shown how little consideration it has for regions like Abitibi, where the economy is largely dependent on mining.
Is the minister aware that these new fiscal measures, far from helping the industry and the communities that depend on mining, are imposing an increase on the average amount of tax paid, particularly by gold and copper mines?