Mr. Speaker, in the United States the unemployment rate is the lowest in 28 years. However the White House recognizes that there are marginalized constituencies and urban areas left behind in the rush to meet the challenges of global competitiveness.
Last Friday, Vice-President Gore announced several new private sector commitments to invest in low income communities. He launched an administration initiative to encourage large businesses to work with local small businesses in distressed areas. The BusinessLINC project includes such high profile partners as BankBoston, Prudential Insurance and Pfizer Corp.
As we in Canada struggle with similar realities of global competitiveness, I ask if there are aspects of this community reinvestment model which our large businesses such as bank merger hopefuls might consider as part of their contract with the people of Canada.