From day one in the annual reports, I've pointed out real concerns about the payday loan crowd. This is a growing and insidious bunch, as far as I'm concerned--just in case you think I don't have an opinion on anything.
I believe there's a real requirement for standards and enforcement of those standards, if at all possible. The complexity is that they fall within provincial jurisdiction. The Province of Quebec has very strong consumer laws as it relates to the dos and don'ts of this particular area. A number of the provinces are looking to step in to set certain rules and standards.
Just in the last week, a paper came out from a professor at York University. I commend it to the committee for a good read. It's insightful on what would happen if you started getting standards set. It's going to take coming back to the Criminal Code. The Criminal Code is enforced under the criminal law and not under an administrative tribunal regulator--so, don't have jurisdiction.
The solution to this has been under way under ministers of justice. My understanding, from comments to this committee from Minister Flaherty, is that there is emerging work to collaborate between the federal government and the provinces, where the federal will adjust the law to give the provinces running room, if they so wish, to take on the payday loan crowd.
I kind of take them on in the ways I can, in terms of information and material, and try to inform consumers in a manner to help them move away from their use. It's not easy.