Madam Speaker, needless to say, I certainly do not support any company that would evade taxes, and clearly that is so.
I think the question that is being brought forward today is whether the tax treaties that are in place are beneficial for international trade generally and Canada's role within that.
There seems to be a mixed perspective being suggested today as to the difference between lawful avoidance and unlawful evasion. Clearly, we are trying our very best to make sure that unlawful evasion of taxes does not happen.
The corporations within this country are taxed on their world income. In that process if they are in some way carrying on business through a subsidiary within a country, as is suggested here today, what the tax treaty merely does is in effect it gives either a level of comfort in terms of tax rate or in other ways may allow for us to give credit to them for the tax paid in another jurisdiction.
Clearly there is no question that we are all out to stop those who would evade paying taxes. I think that is clear and I think every Canadian supports that.
In the overall economic scheme of things, we must work together to make sure that Canada remains a viable economic force working in the international community, with positive tax treaties.