Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
It's been a very informative morning. I'm in British Columbia, where it's still morning.
My questions come from some businesswomen I talk to, and also from my experiences as a former entrepreneur and also as a trainer for entrepreneurs. I was the founding vice-president of the Women's Enterprise Society of BC, which did financing as well as training—exactly what CFIB has been promoting. These small business owners, especially women, need both the money and the training.
My question is about some of the programs that have been around. I have a friend who runs a boutique in the Richmond Mall. Obviously, because of COVID, she had to close her business for some time, following the rules. When she reopened, she found it so difficult to pay the rent.
At that time she was not allowed to apply for it. Obviously, the owner still does not want to apply for the subsidy because of the 25% reduction in the rent. It was through our party that we fought for them. Finally, now, the rent subsidy can be applied for by these small business owners, including women.
From that perspective, what more do you think needs to be done in order to help these women in small business?