Ending the program would definitely have had a major impact. As I explained throughout my remarks, this program is vitally important to businesses in our area. The Côte-Nord actively contributes to Canada's development and economic growth through large-scale hydroelectric and energy development projects, mines and critical minerals throughout the region. If we want to attract these major projects and keep contributing to economic development, we need healthy SMEs. To achieve this, we have to counteract the demographic decline that we’re experiencing in our region, and be prepared to receive people who want to come and actively participate in our growth as part of a great community.
As we see it, this program is unquestionably important, just like immigration.