Madam Speaker, just like you, I am listening today to a captivating debate on tax havens. We are learning some very interesting, albeit sometimes distressing things.
For example, we have learned from the members for Joliette, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot and Drummond that, while some of the richest families in the country are sending their fortunes to tax havens, here in Canada, 1.5 million children are living in poverty.
I would like to ask those members if there is a link between, for example, the tax dodging of the former finance minister with his corporations in Barbados and the $45 billion taken from the employment insurance fund and being used to run the country, and the $3 billion taken from seniors who did not receive the guaranteed income supplement they were entitled to?
We must also add to that the fact that a large shipping company like Canada Steamship Lines is contributing to the destruction of the shores of the St. Lawrence and is refusing to repair the damage, when the shores have been damaged because of its operations. Meanwhile, instead of paying taxes as it should, it is sending its profits to tax havens.
I would like to hear what the hon. member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot has to say about this.