Government Operations committee  The question is quite valid, but it is something we have not looked at specifically. We have done work on the carbon fuel charge, the carbon tax, but we have not looked in detail at the impact of the fuel charge on food inflation. However, as referred to a couple of times in this

Government Operations committee  Inflation as defined by Statistics Canada refers to the price evolution of a basket of goods and services that is representative of what a typical household will buy.

Government Operations committee  It is changing, as is the basket of goods and services they need or purchase, on average. That's based on surveys and consumption patterns, so Statistics Canada is probably better placed to answer how they design their basket of goods and services.

Government Operations committee  It is probably millions. I don't have that note in front of me. The Senate proposed several amendments to this bill and it has been referred to a couple of times, so forgive me if I don't know all the details and can't remember them off the top of my head. What I remember is that

Government Operations committee  My understanding is that farmers are eligible to get back the GST they paid as input tax credits. Also, our analysis for households includes the carbon tax they pay directly and indirectly as well as the GST that's applied to the carbon tax directly and indirectly.

Government Operations committee  Yes, but I would assume that the impact of the carbon tax on the price of food is probably not significant, even though there have been increases in the price of food. Not all of it—only a fraction of it—can be attributed to the carbon tax.

Government Operations committee  Yes, I would be inclined to say that, to some extent.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Sousa, that's a question for policy-makers and legislators.

Government Operations committee  As an economist, I believe that externalities should be internalized, so those who cause negative consequences for society should be the ones who assume these costs, as opposed to pricing—

Government Operations committee  As I said to this committee last week, there is a wide consensus among economists—and I am an economist—that carbon pricing is an effective way of reducing carbon emissions. Any other way of doing it will also have costs. I've been clear about that, and my office has been clear a

Government Operations committee  On what issue? Could you be clear before I agree with something?

Government Operations committee  Climate scientists are almost unanimous in saying that climate change will have impacts on our lives. I'm willing to believe the science on this one, as on many things.

Government Operations committee  If we assume that the impact is 0.15%, this means that inflation is a little higher because of the carbon tax. For example, inflation without the carbon tax will be 2.85%, and with the carbon tax, it will be 3%.

Government Operations committee  Yes. There are two effects to consider. Inflation is an annual phenomenon. We're comparing today's prices to those of a year ago. Prices went up during that year. However, there is also the cumulative effect. For example, if we completely eliminate a tax, we'll also eliminate th

Government Operations committee  I don't have the answer to that question. I'll admit, it's an interesting one, given what we're hearing these days, but I don't have that answer. I know it's based on census data, but I don't know whether non‑permanent residents are included in the Canada health transfer calculat