Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to thank our witnesses for being with us today.
I'm going to direct my comments and questions to Mr. Hayes.
I'm looking at the document that was given to us regarding CVCA. I note that CVCA is a leading source for advocacy, networking, information, and professional development for venture capital and private equity professionals. It goes on to describe what the programs include. It also states—and I think you stated in your opening remarks—that you represent the majority of private equity companies in Canada, with over 1,800 members, and that venture capital is characterized generally by investment in early-stage companies, mostly in technology businesses.
I want to move over to what we know about OSME. It was created with the main purpose of giving SMEs access to government procurement in a number of ways: by reducing procurement areas, simplifying the contracting process, providing training and education, collaborating to improve procurement policies, and working to ensure that the concerns of SMEs are brought forward and heard.
It seems to me that there's an incredible opportunity for the role of CVCA to engage those individuals you are working with at OSME. Yet you've stated that it is not widely known. In fact, among CVCA, knowledge of the work of OSME is practically non-existent, and perhaps the CICP, more particularly. You also stated that more should and could be done to promote it.
I'm wondering what you think should be done in order to ensure that at least your members know about this program, and what your organization could do to help.