It was not patronage. I remember the principles of the country tended to be more Liberal than anything else.
It was the McCain organization. That very small business has grown to be one of the absolute jewels of industry not just in Canada but throughout the world. It has expanded its business not just in Canada but all around the world. It has created jobs and developed technology.
The Government of Canada got its $4 million back within the first year. Since 1980 we have probably received 100 times that amount in taxes and job creation.
Reform members really irk me from time to time. They talk about the importance of entrepreneurship. They talk about the importance of enterprise having a proper environment to get the job done. Most of them come from western Canada. Companies in western Canada receive the biggest grants of all, especially in the oil and gas sector. They are given grants which are buried in the tax act. Those tax grants are no different than direct cash grants.
I support the thrust of Reform Party members when they talk about cleaning up, simplifying and developing a fairer tax system.
However, they cannot take a cheap shot at an act of Parliament that is trying to help small business without realizing they are giving tens of millions of dollars worth of grants to businesses in their ridings through the tax act.