About 98% are, so actually, almost all of the businesses in Canada are considered small and medium-sized businesses. They're not what would be labelled large corporations. Are you aware that 47% of those small and medium-sized businesses are owned either in whole or in part by women?
I'm thinking specifically of women in those situations who are actually just looking to take home a paycheque. Some of them are trying to make a payroll. They are trying to do that during a time when they are having some real difficulty. In fact, in my riding, I just visited a very small candle-making company that employed 26 people before the recession. I've met the woman who runs it. She has four men working for her, but she works for free. So for her, never mind pay equity; she would just like to get paid.
Can you understand? What would you say to those women who have heard that our government is firmly committed to cutting taxes on businesses, the small and medium-sized businesses that make up almost 98% of all businesses in Canada? We are committed, we've been steadfast, and we have not changed our minds or wavered at all. You have also been quite steadfast in the last few months in wanting to take away those tax cuts and to increase taxes on those small businesses.
What would you say to those women, especially considering the jobs they create and the huge pressure they are under already? How can you defend increasing taxes on small and medium-sized businesses in Canada?