On the IRAP issue, in the Budget 2012 announcement they announced $110 million a year in ongoing new funding to expand the National Research Council's program. They're seeking access to $91 million this year. The program is to provide funding and advisory services to small and medium-sized enterprises, as you indicated, and specifically to increase contributions to firms for projects that support commercialization, to expand advisory services through the hiring of industrial technology advisers who will then provide business and technical expertise to the small and medium-sized enterprises, and to launch a service to improve access to information for small and medium-sized enterprises concerning government programs, specialized research facilities, technical and business experts, and international business opportunities.
On November 20th, 2012. See this statement in context.