Senior federal Finance officials are still working on final guidelines that would set out the rules for any mergers between the country’s big banks, says Finance Minister Ralph Goodale.

“I’m just trying to get it done as fast as possible and I understand the senior leadership of the banks will be very anxious to have it as rapidly as possible,” the minister said Tyursday, while refusing to set a firm deadline for the much-anticipated report.

Goodale was in the West African country of Mali as he wrapped up a 10-day fact-finding trip across Africa as part of an anti-poverty commission.

Shortly after the June 28 federal election, Goodale said he hoped to have the long-awaited financial services report finished before summer ends.

Canada’s big banks and other financial institutions have all been waiting impatiently for the guidelines.