I thank the members of the committee.
Essentially, all questions and issues concerning the SMEs are a horizontal responsibility of the Department of Industry and other federal departments and agencies. Our role is to conduct an overview of what is going on, but certain responsibilities and decisions fall specifically to other departments and agencies.
Industry Canada manages a portfolio of programs and services such as the Canada Small Business Financing Program, for example. The Business Development Bank of Canada is part of the Department of Industry's portfolio. The Canada Youth Business Foundation, which we briefly talked about earlier, is also under Industry Canada's responsibility. The BizPal, or PerLE program, which Minister Bernier referred to, is a service offered in partnership with the provinces and municipalities. We administer that service. There is also the entire question of the National Research Council's industrial research programs. The Canada Business Network is part of Industry Canada.
Several programs and services fall under the responsibility of Minister Paradis and Minister Bernier. Other programs have an impact on SMEs and are part of a government plan, but the measures as such are the responsibility of another department or minister.