Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle for the work he has done on this issue since 1998. I note that he was the only member of Parliament who launched a national campaign to alert Canadians to the fact that the banks were planning national, large scale mergers of the few charter banks, and to make them aware and seek input from them as to how they felt about it and if they actually wanted the mergers to take place.
Would the member share with me the view that it is a contradiction for the banks to say that they will be able to provide better service and access to Canadians with fewer outlets in the communities? Does he not see that as an inherent contradiction, that by having fewer outlets they will provide better access? I note that a great deal of the report of the finance committee was about access. Could he comment on that?