Mr. Speaker, before I deal with the specific answer to the question I will deal with the first part of my colleague's remarks.
I do not believe it is appropriate for us to stand in the House and defend the chartered banks of Canada until they have really delivered on the objectives the hon. member helped to form in our "Taking Care of Small Business" document.
Yes, the banks have agreed to create an ombudsman, which they essentially appoint, because they control the board of directors. However, I am nervous about our effectiveness as a committee. Yes, they will report more numbers, but let us face it, the banks will not give us what we wanted in recommendation number two, where we wanted a much greater regional breakdown. When I only see a one per cent increase, which is what I call real action, not words-they are fantastic. Remember that campaign of the Bank of Montreal: "We want to share your pain". When I see only a one per cent increase in the small business float, are they getting to us? Are they pushing us off the mark? Are they pushing us off our focus? Are they distracting us?
This is not bank bashing. There are a million small business men and women out there, and there are as many in the hon. member's riding as there are in mine. If his small business men and women are saying to him that the banks are doing a great job, then his small business men and women are different from mine. They are saying we have not made much of a difference yet.
I plead with all members, if we get one thing done in this session for small business, let us make sure that we get the banks into the business of loaning to small business in a serious way.
In answer to the member's specific question about CDIC fees being disclosed, for me it is a slam dunk: I think they should be.