I want to thank my parliamentary secretary for that challenging question.
I think the biggest thing is the hiring credit for small business. This is a big deal. All of us are members of Parliament, we talk to people in our ridings, we talk to small business people. Tons of people have been hired because of this hiring credit for small business, so this is important.
It's also not inexpensive to the federal treasury, but it is important, so we're going ahead with that again. Since 2006, we've reduced the small business tax rate from 12% to 11%. We've increased the small business limit to $500,000. We've also provided up to $1,000 to help defray the cost of hiring new workers.
But the more important thing is to try to get people into the workforce. I see it in my riding, you probably see it in your constituencies as well, young people who are talented, who are good men and women; they just need a chance. And I think the hiring credit for small business helps give them that foot in the door.