Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to ask the minister a couple of questions.
I want to begin by assuring him that New Democrats all across the country are profoundly concerned about taxes that are being downloaded onto consumers in order to give yet more tax breaks to multinational and profitable corporations.
My question has to do with the secrecy surrounding this HST. When did the federal government begin its negotiations with the provinces and what consultations were undertaken with the public? Very clearly it is the public that is profoundly upset by the apparent new tax and the effect it will have on them.
Would the minister please explain, if he is so concerned about democracy, why he did not consult the public?