I'll start and then let Philip Jennings help me out here.
As you said, Canada's manufacturing sector directly contributes 10% to 11% of our GDP and employs over 1.7 million Canadians. Why it's so important, though, is that typically manufacturing is about innovation and also is oriented to exports. In terms of innovation, the manufacturers account for almost half of the total R and D expenditures in Canada among all firms. I believe it is the most export-oriented area of firms in comparison to services or more commodity-based firms.
Minister Moore always refers to the manufacturing sales in Canada and how they have risen by 2.5% to $54 billion in July, and this really has been a pattern that has been in place now in five of the past six months. This is very positive. It's showing that manufacturing is rebounding.
In terms of the question on regional development agencies, I formerly was a vice-president in the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Typically I meet, as deputy minister of Industry Canada, with my colleague deputies from time to time. They have quarterly meetings, so this year I think I've been twice to their quarterly meetings. They focus very much on supporting businesses in the various regions of the country. Their programming is somewhat different from region to region, reflecting the different needs of those regions. However, overall it's fair to say that they are focused on promoting manufacturing because of its innovation and export orientation.