Madam Speaker, we will take the time to analyze the amendment that was moved. However, today, we are debating the report that the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology prepared following its study of banks and the fees that the credit card companies charge merchants. The banks said that the fees were very high and deeply concerning, and they asked that the Competition Bureau start looking into this right away while we continue our study. That is what we are talking about.
My colleague from Mirabel is working on this file and spoke to me about it. He told me that what is happening is serious. In Canada, the interchange fees that the credit card companies charge merchants are far too high. They are three times higher on average than in Australia and much higher than in the European Union. That needs to change. We are raising the alarm. Furthermore, my colleague from Mirabel and his colleagues on the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology are obviously free to study whatever topics they want. However, I have full confidence that the committee will be able to do something about this.
What we must bear in mind is that the government urgently needs to take action to better protect SMEs, retailers, grocery stores, individuals and consumers from the credit card duopoly. It is the government's role to ensure healthy competition in the economy and to prevent duopolies from using their dominant position to make merchants pay or to grab too much market share. However, the government has chosen not to act. All it is offering are half measures and lip service.