Mr. Speaker, I sat today listening to the various speeches on Bill C-38. I would like to throw out some questions as this hour concludes.
Canada has the healthiest banking system. No, I do not own any shares in a bank, but Canada does have a banking system that is the envy of the world. I wonder what Canadians would think today looking in on this debate.
I heard members say that banks should be required to stay in business. Would the government require Dairy Queen to stay in business if a town was folding up? I heard people say that the banking industry is an evil institution because it charges for its services. I heard people say in the House that there is no competition. There is more competition in the banking industry today than ever in the history of Canada. Everywhere we go there is more competition.
What we should be doing, instead of trying to drivel out some 1955 or earlier speeches about how to nationalize the banking industry in Canada, is talking about the fact that the institutions that are providing competition to the banks are valuable institutions.
Why would members want to paint a picture, not only for the investment community but for all Canadians, that our banking institution is something of a very evil nature? That is the message they are putting out. I am ashamed as a Canadian to have to listen to this drivel about the banking institution, which is world famous, being an evil institution.