Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll echo what everyone else said and say thanks for being here. I know that some of you have come a long way, so thank you very much for that.
Mr. Halde, in your presentation you mentioned two things--an increase in the delinquency rate, but at the same time an increase in the number of your clients who are looking to invest in the future. That, to me, just reinforces what I think, that, as it has been historically, at times of recession a weeding out happens.
We recognize that it's difficult for some, but it is an opportunity if it's taken advantage of. What it says to me is that this is a particularly important time to ensure that those stronger ones do not in fact suffer from a lack of capital. If there is a time to really take advantage and really help those that are showing promise, this is the time not to allow them to be jeopardized by the lack of access to capital.
I'm putting this question to you and Mr. Hayes and Mr. Rémillard.
We certainly, from the Liberal perspective, are recommending in the pre-budget finance committee report that there be increases in both the amount available for tax credit for venture capital and the amount available to be creditable. We are moving, I think, in the right direction, at least in terms of recommendations, but we're also hearing real concerns about continued exodus to the United States for some of these companies.
Mr. Hayes, you mentioned the continued gap between R and D and then the next step of commercialization. That is part of what is leaving to the United States.
In addition to some of those recommendations that you were saying for venture capital from a tax credit perspective, what else can government be doing in particular that you could recommend to us now to bridge that gap specifically? As well, what are we not doing in terms of numbers vis-à-vis the United States?
I know that some of that has been answered so far; just more succinctly, please.