Thank you very much, Mr. Rajotte.
Committee chairs, vice-chairs, committee members, the clerks of the committee, and analysts, let me begin by thanking you for giving Option consommateurs the opportunity to appear before you on the issue of fees charged to merchants and to consumers for the use of credit and debit cards.
Option consommateurs was established in 1983. We are a non-profit association whose mission is to promote and protect consumers' interests and to ensure they are respected. Our head office is located in Montreal, and we've recently opened a small office in Ottawa.
We intervene on matters of public policy with both the Government of Quebec and the federal government. We have been involved in analyses of the Canadian financial services sector for several years, through research, surveys, and by representing consumers' interests in different fora, such as the Canadian Payments Association.
With me today is Ms. Geneviève Reed, from Montreal, who is the Head of the Research and Representation Department of Option consommateurs. I will hand the floor over to my colleague.