The coalition has proposed practical solutions that reflect the uniqueness of our market. They can be implemented to better serve and protect hundreds of thousands of businesses and Canadian consumers from coast to coast. There is often an attitude of resignation about rising fees and charges from banks and credit card companies. There are so many of them that there's no way for consumers or businesses to fight back. Actually, though, there is a way to fight back, and we look to these committee hearings as a vital first step in this regard.
In closing, our coalition members are humbled to be here. Indeed, we wrestled long and hard with this issue before seeking the government's involvement. First, we sought out commercial solutions. As associations, we have engaged directly with credit card companies to raise our concerns, but to no avail. Asking for regulation is not what we normally do, but in this case we are left with no other option. In our opinion, one role of government is to recognize when markets are not functioning properly and take appropriate steps to correct this malfunction. Now is the time to act, and we urge you to do so.
Thank you for this opportunity. We look forward to your questions.