Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
And thank you very much to the witnesses.
Mr. Brohman, you made the comment recently that global poverty is a business opportunity, and to solve problems you need business. Personally I would concur with that. I think there are great opportunities there for the taking.
I've had the opportunity to do some travelling in emerging economies. I was actually in Bangladesh with Results Canada when Katy Wright was leading that delegation, and I learned a great deal.
I had the opportunity to spend an hour with Muhammad Yunus. And I would encourage members of this committee to read his book, Banker to the Poor. It's not altruistic. Grameen Bank and BRAC Bank are competitors in that society, in the same way that Royal Bank and Bank of Montreal compete here. They are quite upfront with the fact they charge a 20% flat rate for interest, so it is a profit making organization. It's a bank that offers banking services, insurance, cell phones—everything is with the bank.
My question is what role do you see microfinance having? Is there an opportunity there that is going to generate employment and create profits for the business to encourage those businesses to stay sustainable?
I'd also like to ask, with regard to these jobs that have been created through Brandaid, what the employment rate is. What are the lifestyle results from the employment? Is it making changes for families who now have profit to perhaps spend on education or better living conditions or health care?
Can you give us some observations there?