Mr. Speaker, the government has been active on a number of fronts to provide the provinces and territories with more support in these trying times. We will increase and accelerate the funding for infrastructure projects all across Canada.
In conclusion, I want to remind the House that our government will protect the equitable, viable support we are providing to all the provinces, including Quebec. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario have all made the transition to a fully harmonized sales tax system and have benefited as a result. This is a matter of equity and give and take.
If Quebec wants to take the same path, it can expect to be treated in the same way. The Government of Canada will be happy to discuss the possibility of Quebec joining the harmonized federal sales tax system. As for the other harmonized provinces, that will mean the following. The provincial share of the harmonized sales tax is levied under the federal legislation. The tax base is essentially the same as for the federal GST. In addition, the federal and provincial components of the harmonized sales tax are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency. The provincial revenues are paid out in accordance with the framework for the distribution of harmonized sales tax revenues following the signature of a comprehensive integrated tax coordination agreement.
Under the terms of this agreement, companies that collect the harmonized sales tax deal with only one tax authority, regardless of where their offices are located. This obviates overlap and bureaucratic inefficiencies. It also has the effect of lowering costs for both the government authorities and taxpayers and, by the same token, makes us more attractive to investors, which is good for Quebec and good for Canada as a whole.
Our government has made a firm commitment to the provinces to ensure that the stability and predictability of the program is adapted to economic growth. Like all the provinces in our great country, Quebec will be able to continue counting on long-term, targeted assistance from our government based on a cooperative approach.
In conclusion, I would like to propose an amendment, namely that the motion be changed by striking out all the words after “in the early 1990s”.