Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My questions are for Ms. Torjman and Mr. Mintz, and they relate to startups in the technology sector. In the Greater Montreal area, there are no less than 5,000 of them, and many of them contact us to tell us about their difficulties.
I have two questions for you about them. Very often, they had concluded a first sales contract. However, because of the COVID-19 crisis, these contracts were cancelled or postponed, to a relatively distant future.
The business model for startups involves a lot of expense in the beginning, until the first contract comes along. Now that first contract is postponed. Therefore, these businesses are not eligible for the 75% wage subsidy.
First of all, do you think these companies should be included in the subsidy program?
Second, in many cases, these startups are unable to borrow funds, and they rely on venture capital funds. These funds are now pulling out because they themselves are short of cash. Do you think the government should take over where the venture capital funds left off by offering something other than the $40,000 loan?