Thank you.
Now, outside of the innovation program, are there some other means? I know that the Public Works Department has put some measures in place to make it easier for small businesses to do business with the federal government, such as things like buyandsell.gc.ca and the procurement ombudsman. I know that those have been successful.
I've talked to some small business people in my own riding and some stakeholders. They've talked about how they've successfully gained contracts with the federal government, but one of their criticisms is that the federal government is actually the worst payer. It's really hard to get paid by the federal government at times, compared to other entities they deal with.
I don't see any measures or metrics, and I suppose it's good for the taxpayer and good for the treasury to squeeze small businesses, but ultimately it's not good for the small businesses. Some of them have to lever up just so they can finance doing business with the federal government. Is Public Works doing anything to make the federal government a better payer, especially for smaller businesses?