Thank you, Mr. Allison. If I have the time, I would like to share with Ms. Yelich too; I know she has some questions.
I have a few comments. I appreciate all the witnesses coming here today.
I heard mention of Ireland as being a model. I think Mr. Georgetti mentioned it. Their success, I would suggest, obviously has more to do with the lower corporate tax rate. I am sure Mr. Georgetti is a fan of that, and hopefully we'll hear that as a deposition before finance at some point.
Also, I heard reference to 911 as being provincial. I would add that telecommunications is federal, so it is important that we don't honestly forget to mention that.
I also note that I heard some concern over violence. Obviously, Canadians are very peaceful, so I think that argument can be misleading. If there were any very remote chance of violence in this atmosphere, I think there might be a greater likelihood of violence if people couldn't get their paycheques and couldn't pay their mortgages because of work stoppages in banks via telecommunications, if we inhibited the telecommunications and their ability to do their job; or if grain growers couldn't use the trains and couldn't get their product on the trains. The violence argument, I think, is not a great concern. I think it is more a bit of fearmongering than anything else.
My question would be for the CBA. Could the CBA could let me know if they have done any research on this issue? Also, could they give me some examples of the impact Bill C-257 would cause and why it is so important for the CBA to present their case for us today?
As an Ontario MP, I too am very concerned about this. I saw the devastation that similar legislation caused in Ontario between 1993 and 1995. Obviously it would be a big decision for Parliament to flip-flop on this after they said no a mere two years ago, with very well-researched members like Mr. Regan, who voted against, or the newly minted Liberal leader. I think it would be very important that if such a radical decision were taken, it would have to be for a very grave reason. Maybe the CBA can expound for us what their feelings are on this very important proposed legislation.