Mr. Speaker, it is not a question of being opposed to or in favour of mergers. It is a question of what is in the public interest. If a merger is in the public interest, then of course I and my colleagues would support it. It is not a matter of some ideological fixation that someone is automatically in favour of these large organizations, as I think the member for Kelowna would be. Neither is it a matter of being automatically opposed. In this modern world we have to be pragmatic. Socialists are as pragmatic as anybody else. We are supportive of things that are good for Canadians.
The member raises the question of co-ops. Let us look at the Canadian Wheat Board. That has been a huge success story for Canadians. The Reform Party is opposed to it even though it works because philosophically Reformers do not like it. It does not suit their philosophy. It does not suit their 19th century view of the world. Therefore they do not like it. But it works. Canadian farmers know it works. That is the way that New Democrats across this country are approaching our economic challenges. If it works, we do it. If it does not work, we do not do it.