Mr. Speaker, like my colleague, I would like to say that our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the Boston tragedy.
Getting back to the issue at hand, I do not know if the member in question realizes how ironic his comments are. He is boasting about the tax credits in budget 2013 and calling them tax reductions that will benefit certain classes of citizens. However, he makes no mention of the elimination of tax credits which, according to the gospel of the Conservative government, do not represent tax hikes.
The motion before us condemns the tax hikes, estimated at $8 billion over five years, contained in budget 2013.
I would like to ask a question about one particular tax increase that affects labour-sponsored venture capital corporations. Almost $355 million a year will be taken from small investors over the next five years. The elimination of this tax credit has been criticized by Canada's Venture Capital & Private Equity Association and by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec.
Why is the government refusing to call the elimination of this tax credit a tax hike? Why is the government not listening to Quebec's business people in particular and Canada's Venture Capital & Private Equity Association, which have condemned these tax increases?