Thank you, Madam Chair.
My first question will basically be about the same subject, so that the minister can finish her remarks.
My concern is a simple one and deals with very small businesses. A number of those businesses are general partnerships, or ones that pay salaries in the form of dividends. They are also falling through the cracks of the programs that have been announced because they are not eligible for them. At least, it is difficult to find the right fund that can assist them. This is particularly the reality with producers where I live. I will come back to that later.
I was pleased to see the announcement of a measure designed to meet the needs of very small companies. You talked about that fund, which is intended to help rural communities by providing them with access to capital. However, it was mentioned in a news release on April 17, 2020. More than 12 days later, we are still waiting for the details. How will it work? What will be the eligibility criteria?
The advantage for people in going through the SADC network, is that those organizations are in direct contact with the entrepreneurs who need their assistance. It allows them to obtain more flexible support that is better tailored to their reality.
However, they are asking me the same question: when will the flexible assistance measures be available for them?