Mr. Chairman, as for revenues and the collection for the purposes of creating revenues and for the purposes of fairness, if a person in Quebec pays four dollars and eighty-eight cents for a pack of cigarettes and the cost up here is still seven dollars and whatever it is, there is nothing fair about that. If you also look at universal programs, the universal programs are based on fixed income. Just because the price of tobacco increases doesn't mean that people on pension or on social assistance have their assistance or security contributions increased to reflect that increase. It certainly would make it possible for a person that is living on a fixed income in Quebec to have that dollar stretch a long way. I think that when this tobacco tax was first introduced in the north, my concern was for the senior citizens, but they are not getting the break that they should be getting. If the Minister wants to keep the prices the same, then I agree that it should be targeted towards the young people, which I think the Minister has made statements to that effect on numerous occasions. I would hope that, while it is great and noble and very courageous of the Minister to do that, we are doing something for the senior citizens that are still on fixed income. The Minister is well aware of the social programs, the universal social programs that are under assault right now. If you want to maintain the price, I don't mind that, but I would appreciate if somehow we might be able to try to give our senior citizens a break.
Samuel Gargan on Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
In the Legislative Assembly on February 23rd, 1994. See this statement in context.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 22nd, 1994
Page 319
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
See context to find out what was said next.