Madam Speaker, I heard the answer given by the member to the member for Drummond. I believe we all agree that we must act multilaterally. As a matter of fact, the second part of the motion proposes that Canada play a leadership role in the elimination of tax havens.
There is something a bit odd with regard to Barbados. Not only did the former finance minister, who has since transferred his assets to his sons, have an office there, but it is the only tax haven with which Canada has a tax convention.
Some 35 countries or territories are considered tax havens, and Barbados is the only one with which Canada has a tax convention. We do not have any with the other ones, be it Bermuda, the Bahamas—to name just a couple. What is really worrisome is that we chose to have a tax convention with only one country considered a tax haven. And it just happens to be the country of choice of the big Canadian banks and a number of corporations including Canada Steamship Lines.
I would simply like to ask the member whether he agrees with the Auditor General that it is a problem, that it erodes the tax base and that, as a result, people like him and me who pay their taxes have to pay higher taxes because others are avoiding their obligations.
I would like to know what the member's thoughts are on this.