Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to go forward on this issue, the kickstart program. It's something our committee has worked on. It is an initiative to help small and medium-sized businesses access government contracts, especially when they have innovative or leading-edge technology, or something they have found impossible to demonstrate in other venues, which they believe the federal government would benefit from.
Our committee heard last year that some businesses were having a difficult time accessing government contracts, because their product was so innovative that it didn't fit within the criteria the government had brought forward to solicit bids for replacement of existing materials. I'd like additional information on this, because I am concerned. I believe it's important that small and medium-sized businesses have access to federal government contracts. I see that there's $3.8 million allocated for this. These are usually products that would be purchased anyway, initiatives that would be happening anyway. I'm wondering what the $3.8 million is specifically intended to do. Is it to test them? What is the money being spent on?