Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to thank the Minister for replying to the majority of my opening comments. On page 148, it does list in the taxation column both for tobacco and fuel tax, we see a very modest and actually very insignificant I call it decrease in the revised estimates to the main estimates. In fact, it’s almost statistically insignificant when you factor in an audit component.
That being said, if we look at the statistics we are getting from the Department of Health which clearly indicates that the smoking rate is going down, the number of smokers is going down, so just by virtue of math, we should be collecting less tax. Those variables should go hand in hand. Yet when we look at the main estimates, we are only seeing a very slight decrease in tobacco tax being collected.
Can the department offer some validation as to knowing some of the variables are decreasing by significant factors, both in the Territories and nationally? What are the assumptions in only seeing a slight decrease in tobacco tax revenues for the upcoming fiscal year? Thank you.