Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, who is from Manitoba, for those comments because he is absolutely right. Nobody who is watching this debate and who has been following the debate as told through the media and through their members of Parliament would believe that there is not something in it for both the federal and provincial levels of government. The quote that was just read from Manitoba is absolutely spot on in that regard.
The Government of Manitoba is not the only validator of the position that we have taken here in the House. Let me read a few others. B.C. Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair said:
We must reject in the strongest possible terms the HST. This tax is a disaster for everything we believe in. Our slogan is simple: No HST.
The Union of BC Indian Chiefs said:
This tax will further marginalize and add hardship to First Nations families and communities while increasing the coffers of industry and government.
The Canadian Association of Retired Persons said:
Eighty-five per cent of the over 5,000 CARP members polled disapproved of the proposed harmonization of GST and PST.
Pauline Aunger, president of the Ontario Real Estate Association, said:
These additional taxes could price some homebuyers, especially first-time homebuyers, right out of the market.
Harmonizing will not help homebuyers in any way.
The executive director of the Vancouver Thunderbirds Minor Hockey Association said:
We estimate that if the HST was to be introduced, it would cost the Vancouver Thunderbirds Minor Hockey Association an additional $30,000 directly related to the purchase of ice for the youth in our community registered in our hockey program.
I know I am out of time, but perhaps I will get a chance to read some of the other quotes into the record after the next question.