Mr. Chairman, each calendar quarter, the retail tobacco prices are surveyed. On the basis of this survey, a new taxable price is calculated. The changes are usually minor.
To implement the new taxable price, a regulation must be prepared by the legislation division. The regulation must be registered to legally implement the new taxable price. The regulation to come into force October 1, 1991 contained an error, and an incorrect taxable price was registered. A new regulation was prepared with the correct taxable price, and was registered, and came into force October 15, 1991. During those 15 days, Mr. Chairman, although we were charging the correct price, the regulation under which we were charging that price contained the wrong number.
To ensure that the correct regulation is made effective as of October 1, an amendment to the Tobacco Tax Act has been prepared. This is the reason for the bill, Mr. Chairman.