I find that it's the enabling environment, and I know many organizations, like the BBPA and others, are working on this.
There is an area called Eglinton. Some of you may know it. I know a lot of business owners in that particular area, and I drive there every now and then, especially when I go to the Jamaican consulate there. The environment itself is not enabling the businesses to thrive. I mentioned my friend who had three pharmacies. He has passed on now. I see our friends who have put so much effort into this. Yes, there may be funding to support it, but if the communities themselves are not committed to patronizing your business, it's not going to go anywhere, no matter how much funding you have.
If you want an action item, topic or theme, it's the enabling environment. It's one thing to have the funding, the confidence and all the supports. Again, if somebody is not knocking on your door, then the business is going to struggle and eventually close. We know businesses like that. We're doing a lot on our end, but we want to see the government.... Yes, the funding is there. The money itself doesn't enable the environment. You could give me a million dollars, but if the people in my area of Mississauga don't patronize me because they don't have the awareness that I'm not dangerous or whatever they are struggling with, then the business will shut down and similar businesses will shut down.
I used to live in Malton—shut down. I used to live in other areas—shut down. Like I said, I apply for credit, with the same credit worthiness.... I have a friend at TD Bank who said, “Use an address in Royal York. Watch.” I did, and I got it. It's the same credit. I just used a different address. We tested it. It was a test.
The enabling environment, the systems, the policies—these things were built way back and nobody has ever talked about the actual systems. By “systems”, I'm talking about the technology used. I worked in a bank. I worked for the Royal Bank, CIBC and BMO, so I know them. I know those systems are still in there.
It's an enabling environment.
I don't know if that answered your question.