There were three pillars to the social economy: a research pillar, which has rolled out, and two other pillars—one for patient capital, and a third pillar for capacity building. We know from experience internationally in growing the cooperative movement in many other countries that you need to marry the financial assistance and some patient capital with technical assistance as well. Those two pillars, we think, are very important.
Cooperatives are found all across the country and although we welcome the roll-out in Quebec, there is some irony, in that the social economy and the co-op movement is very strong in Quebec. One could argue that the monies, although needed in Quebec, and certainly they are, are also profoundly needed in the rest of the country, where the monies have not rolled out.
We are surprised that this government has not chosen to roll out the money across the rest of the country, given its strong rural and western base, and we really would urge reconsideration.