The hon. member for Hochelaga—Maisonneuve said that branches are being closed in his riding and, as I said in my speech, this is happening even though the banks were not allowed to merge.
Branches of banks and of caisses populaires are merging, and people are afraid that this will happen primarily in less advantaged communities and neighbourhoods. Unfortunately, rural areas are always less advantaged, and the major urban communities always have disadvantaged areas more likely to be without any suitable financial services.
When we speak of a financial safety net for investors in Quebec and in Canada, what we mean is that people need protection. If there can be some kind of tax or refund to the taxpayer, why not?