Mr. Speaker, the availability of credit to the small business sector remains a critical issue for this government.
We are very aware of the importance of the small business community and its impact on our domestic economy. That is why the government has worked hard over the past few years to improve the environment for small businesses in Canada.
The views of the task force on the future of the Canadian financial sector will be helpful to the government in deciding whether to approve or reject the particular merger transaction.
I would like to assure my hon. colleagues in the opposition that this government will not allow this merger to proceed without the understanding of its impacts on the small business community in Canada and without the full input of all Canadians, including the small business community.
We said from the beginning that this government will not allow any financial institution to jump the cue. We set a process in place. That process was to allow the MacKay report to report. Once the MacKay report comes back to this House, the standing committee on finance will tour the country.
I offer the invitation to the hon. member who brought this question to the House to join us to hear from Canadians and to have input into what this government is prepared to do with respect to the merger of any financial institutions in this country.