Thank you, Mr. Chairman and colleague. I appreciate you raising this. Of course, we have had extensive discussions with the sector as well. The committee may know that the Business Development Bank now has over half a billion dollars in venture capital committed to a number of companies here in Canada. Only this spring, the government invested $350 million in the BDC's venture capital operations. Then in September we announced a further $50 million investment in the BDC to boost venture capital activity in southern Ontario.
Thus, we already have an enormous investment, a large investment, in venture capital. We also provide tax credits to labour-sponsored venture capital to the tune of about $125 million a year. Export Development Canada is also a venture capital investor.
With respect to more specifics on what you asked, I think I'll ask John Connell to add to that. Bear in mind that this is not an area where the Government of Canada has been idle; we've been extremely active in this area.