That's a voice we know needs to be represented. When we talk about SMEs, as much as we think we are talking about all of them, there are so many of them. We're talking about the backbone of the Canadian economy. We're looking at numbers that are quite vast. This is something we will continue to do more for.
When it comes to the microcompanies, there's a lot of talk about financing and creating opportunities. The Canada small business financing program really is important, because it helps businesses obtain term loans of up to $350,000 to finance equipment and leasehold improvements, and up to $1 million for real property. People don't know about that program. It has existed for quite a while. We need more people to know about it. We need to start engaging with people as they become entrepreneurs, and to provide that solution so that we can support them in the early stages.
What's unfortunate is that when you're later in life—meaning in the experience of a business—you then all of a sudden see so clearly, because hindsight is 20/20.
Mentorship is so important. That's why we are using programs and services to ensure that mentorship is key. There are people who have faced those challenges and overcome those obstacles who are saying that the next generation of businesses will not have to do that, and we will mentor and create those partnerships.
Futurpreneur is a very important program for people under the age of 39. It helps to support entrepreneurs to start a business. It provides them with $15,000, and then leverages that with the Business Development Bank of Canada. Sometimes people find the BDC a little overwhelming, which is understandable, but it allows them to work more closely together.