QUEBEC CITY - The Parti Quebecois wants to cut Canada out of tax collection in Quebec and says it can save about $840 million in the process.
As millions of Quebecers prepare to file both federal and provincial tax returns this year, the opposition in Quebec City is pressing the Liberal government to introduce a single form.
Quebec is the only jurisdiction in Canada where taxpayers must file federal and provincial taxes separately because the province has its own separate revenue department.
Other provinces have agreements with the federal government to have the Canada Revenue Agency collect taxes on their behalf.
The pro-independence party now wants to shut Revenue Canada out of the process altogether. Quebec already collects the GST in Quebec on behalf of the federal government and has been for nearly 20 years.
Parti Quebecois member Jean-Martin Aussant says eliminating double-filing would simplify life for Quebec taxpayers and businesses that spend hours on extra paperwork.
NO ulterior motive: PQ
Aussant says the cost-savings estimate is based on a number of studies and would include the integration of Revenue Canada employees into Revenue Quebec.
Aussant insists the proposal has nothing to do with achieving sovereignty by stealth.
"It was Robert Bourassa who first brought forth the idea (in 1990) of unifying taxes in Quebec and he wasn't a sovereigntist as far as I know," Aussant said.
"It's a question of efficiency and common sense. We throw away $840 million every year by filing two tax returns instead of one, and whether you're federalist or sovereigntist, it's a good idea."
