Mr. Speaker, the Royal Bank is our largest financial institution. It is part of the general banking industry that has been requesting increased access to other financial service sectors within our country so that, as it says, it can more effectively compete in a new globalized trading system.
Canadians have paid the price of reduced competition in the securities business and now there is the possibility of encroachment into the area of insurance.
This bank now chooses to display the flag of the United States in some of its branches.
While I understand this is a promotional campaign, Canadians are nevertheless insulted by this intrusion of foreign symbolism into what has been until now a historically Canadian institution. This is especially true since it has been Canadians who have paid the price in many countless ways of supporting it.