Nearly three-quarters of us think our banks are safe and sound -- says a survey out today by the banks: Seventy-two per cent of Canadians believe that Canada’s banks have performed better than other banks around the world...In other bank news today: "Close to half a million people will likely never know whether their personal information was compromised in a data breach..."

In the wake of the widely leaked news that Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will propose doing away with the public subsidy of political parties, the federal Liberal caucus held an emergency meeting this morning in the Centre Block on the Hill. They're just breaking up now but there are suggestions that some are broaching the idea that it might be a good idea to send out feelers along the lines of a coalition government. In the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, the public subsidy -- $1.95 per vote received in the last general election per year -- made up about two-thirds of the revenue of both the Liberals and the BQ. For the NDP and Greens it was about half and for the Tories it was 35 per cent.

Here's Liberal Party spokesman Daniel Lauzon:

"We feel the current political financing laws exist to provide stable annual funding to political parties based on the level of support they earn. As such, they are crucial to a healthy democratic process.Though it’s not surprising that the day this government is plunging Canada into multibillion dollar deficit, the Conservatives are trying to change the channel, it’s indefensible that rather than introducing significant measures to address the economic crisis, Stephen Harper has instead chosen to use today’s Economic and Fiscal update to take a cheap partisan shot at his political opponents."

Flaherty will tell all beginning at 4 pm Ottawa time in the House of Commons.