Mr. Speaker, today we are debating a bill that will affect the accessibility of small and medium size business to financing from commercial banks.
The proposed merger of the Bank of Montreal and the Royal Bank also threatens to have a huge and negative impact on the accessibility to financing by small business across Canada. I wish to ask the member what he thinks about the three following questions: Does he believe that the merger would benefit small businesses in his riding? Does he agree with the Minister of Finance that the entry of more foreign banks into the Canadian market would make the mega merger acceptable? Does he think the Minister of Finance should say no to the merger right now?