Human Resources committee  Canwest is currently suing the federal government, alleging that a ban on prescription drug advertising violates its freedom of expression. A decision in this case is expected in the summer of 2009. We see this as a real danger; that's why we brought it up. Also, a study done by an economist shows that if it were to be allowed, it would cost $10 billion more per year in Canada for drugs and health services.

Human Resources committee  Yes. Regulations are needed to lower credit card rates. There is considerable variation, depending on whether the card was issued by a bank or a department store. So, that is an area where regulations are required.

Human Resources committee  Yes. I think we need to look at the fact that people are solicited without ever asking for a credit card, opening the door to all sorts of other types of credit. There is also a parallel credit market that needs to be monitored, one that especially affects low-income Canadians who do not have access to normal credit and thus resort to other forms of credit.

Human Resources committee  Yes.

Human Resources committee  This gives me an opportunity to raise a point that I did not have time to mention in the brief I submitted. We are calling on the government to put an end to the UCCB, or Universal Child Care Benefit, because tax credits are measures that apply to individuals—and the same thing applies to the public transit tax credit—are ineffective and unfair, in our opinion, because they do not benefit all segments of society.

Human Resources committee  As regards housing and public transit, a massive reinvestment is also needed because these are both budget items that have a major impact on low-income Canadians. With respect to the tax system, I simply wanted to mention that it is important to once again create additional tax brackets, as was the case in the 1980s in Canada, so that it is not the middle class and low-income Canadians who are bearing the brunt of the tax burden.

Human Resources committee  I would like to thank you for inviting us to present our views on the federal government's contribution to reducing poverty in Canada. The Union des consommateurs is a non-profit organization—a federation of cooperative home economic associations, which have had roots in every region of Quebec for more than 40 years now.