Public Accounts committee  Andrew, do you want to take that?

Public Accounts committee  —not to make things more difficult to understand, because—

Public Accounts committee  Honestly, I'm again a little surprised at your reaction. I have made it clear on a number of occasions that we are changing directions in a way that is transparent, while also recognizing the importance of what we do, including advising the government. I believe that we are demonstrating a certain openness and that you have the proof of it today.

Public Accounts committee  I can't explain why—

Public Accounts committee  —in the past, someone decided not to provide you with a certain number.

Public Accounts committee  I'm here and I'm providing you with the number you asked for.

Public Accounts committee  I'm sorry to interrupt you, but you said I was appointed Minister when I'm actually the Deputy Minister.

Public Accounts committee  There is a significant difference between the two.

Public Accounts committee  That's certainly not the case at all.

Public Accounts committee  In my opening remarks, at the beginning of our meeting today, I used words like “estimate” and “as things evolve” several times. Yes, we have numbers. That said, our goal is to try to answer your questions in a way that will help you better understand the nature of a tax system, in this case—

Public Accounts committee  Madam Chair, unfortunately, I did not understand the question. I understood the words, but not the meaning of the question. Can you just repeat it in a different way?

Public Accounts committee  Okay. That's a reasonable question. I'll repeat myself a little. Clearly, I always try to honour the past directions of an organization. In this case, it's the Department of Finance. But you also have to find ways for those directions or practices to evolve. That's why I understand the reluctance in the past to disclose an amount like that.

Public Accounts committee  No. Actually, the decision to release that number was made by departmental officials. So it does not reflect any intervention on the part of our two ministers.

Public Accounts committee  Clearly, Mr. Blanchette-Joncas, I was not in office at the time. The only thing I can tell you is that we feel it is important to be transparent with the committee. Recently, we have slightly changed our attitude about these issues. I think we made a reasonable decision to share the figure and to be a little more transparent.

Public Accounts committee  It's an estimate of the revenue that would have been available in a world where that aspect of the GST would have been in place during 2017.