Yes, absolutely. Thank you for your question.
During the COVID‑19 pandemic, we received approximately $40 million annually for two years. Unfortunately, the funding was limited to two years and was specifically meant for small and medium-sized businesses. We feel that $40 million in funding should be ongoing. The money was spent quickly and many businesses received support. In meeting with a number of our members, we saw just how much the support was needed.
Right now, projects are funded on a piecemeal basis, with zero capacity for follow‑up. I'm not sure whether there's enough time left, but my colleague, Mr Lovisa, could give you examples of the gaps that arise when specialized projects are only partially funded, with no support for the work done at the front or back end.