Finance committee  We don't have a specific policy on that issue. However, we have supported the government's efforts in the past to do that, yes.

Finance committee  Yes.

Finance committee  Certainly. With our chamber in particular, its makeup is about 85% small business. That's very representative of the business community in Edmonton itself, and, I suspect, to a large degree across the country. Small business is a significant economic driver in our country, and

Finance committee  We have just shy of 3,000 members.

Finance committee  We're the largest municipal chamber in the country.

Finance committee  No.

Finance committee  One of the significant costs that business bears with such a complex tax code is compliance with it. There's a significant cost borne on simply filing tax returns and trying to ensure that you're taking full advantage of the tax code as it sits. The last time there was a royal

Finance committee  Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the House of Commons committee on finance. As noted, my name is Robin Bobocel. I'm the vice-president of public affairs for the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, the largest municipal chamber of commerce in Canada. On behalf of our nearly 3

Finance committee  I don't have an answer for that right now. We're still looking to flesh out this policy some more. I'm not sure if Mr. Hersack has any supplemental information, but I don't have an actual figure for you.

Finance committee  I don't have in real fiscal terms; it's on more of a conceptual basis.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Storseth, thank you for the question. Alberta is constantly looking at ways in which to diversify its economy. Based on the fact that we are primarily a resource-based economy, we need to expand the value chain and to encourage the development of a

Finance committee  That's my understanding, yes.

Finance committee  We believe it's one and the same, in that ACCA does need to be reinstated and able to be utilized by project proponents. The reason we are looking to extend the program or expand it to include upgrading and other high-capacity investments is due to the fact that originally when t

Finance committee  Mr. Chairman, thank you for the question. First of all, as I stated in my remarks, we feel that ACCA is not a subsidy to any particular industry. It's in fact deferred tax revenue. It's revenue that, arguably, the federal government would not receive due to the fact the majority

Finance committee  No. What we're asking for is strategic investments to leverage private dollars and participation by the federal government where it's required to incent such investment. Hopefully that answers the question.