So let me start by saying a few words about Year 2000 readiness in the Canadian financial sector. Year 2000 preparations As I said in Regina a little over a month ago, the Canadian financial sector has done its Year 2000 homework - and, I might add, done it very thoroughly.
The Bank of Canada and providers of financial services are confident that Canadians can expect “business as usual” in the financial sector as we head into the Year 2000 and beyond. The critical systems of financial institutions, including those systems that support automated banking machines, credit and debit cards, and telephone banking, have been modified where necessary and tested.