Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Shefford for his question.
Bill C-26 addresses a subject that we have discussed today: the very high interest rates charged.
Frankly, I am not sure if these payday loan organizations will accept pension cheques. Perhaps they do.
I think there are two different issues. If pensioners have problems getting from payday to payday and a pension is their only source of income, increasing their pension will not expose them to further difficulties. It will keep them away from the payday loan organizations. I do not see the two as running contrary to each other.
I think if we were to do something with seniors that could help them with their pensions, it could keep them away from payday loan organizations. In fact, I suspect many seniors are not aware of the proliferation of payday loan organizations. Some may be, but some may have difficulty finding their way to the payday loan organizations and dealing with some of the complexities. I am not sure that they are big customers, but I am only saying that. I do not have any research or information to support that.
I do not think that what I am suggesting here with respect to old age security and what Bill C-26 does conflict with one another in any way shape or form.