Mr. Speaker, I will repeat the key points I made earlier and continue my speech. I said that the Small Business Loans Act was part of a global strategy by the government to boost the growth of such business, and more particularly its access to financing and capital. I also said we did a lot of consulting, before we went ahead. I said, as well, that this project would be self-supporting, and that the government's action was in keeping with two of its policies: to reduce subsidies to business and to reduce the deficit and the debt.
I also indicated that the new program would better suit businesses with a greater need for access to capital, because, according to our research, 30 per cent to 40 per cent of businesses are getting from the existing program capital which could be used elsewhere. I added that I had talked to many business men and women in my riding of St. Boniface, who told me this was a step forward.
I concluded the first part of my speech by saying that this was the sort of government initiative that reached across the entire country-an example of what we can accomplish together.
Now for the second part. Speaking of what we can accomplish together, let us have a look at what we have already done in Canada. We all know that Canadians are respected around the world, for a number of reasons. We all know that we are the best country on the whole planet, and we are not the ones to say so. Organizations are saying so. We all know that people in many countries, in the vast majority of countries, would like to join us.
We are a pretty formidable economic power, since we rank seventh based on our gross domestic product. We know that the government is evolving, and even when people do not have the same philosophy of government, I think they should realize that governments and government institutions evolve and change. And that is exactly what this government has done for the past two years. To put it another way, it has embarked on a review of the federal government's mandate and that of other levels of government in order to eliminate duplication and overlap.
It has done so while respecting the authority of other levels of government and at the same time reducing government expenditures. it has taken steps to ensure that this initiative will be able to continue, because we still have some way to go.
Consider what we have done together so far. If we look at the past two years, we see that more than 600,000 jobs have been created. That is a lot, but it is not enough. We must create more jobs. We need a climate that is conducive to job creation. Our objective with respect to the debt and the deficit is a case in point. We wanted to ensure that the deficit would not be in excess of 3 per cent of the gross domestic product. We think we can achieve that.
Interest rates are among the lowest we have seen for a long time. The inflation rate is much lower than it was. Consider our growth figures. Economic growth has increased by 33 per cent. Exports have gone up by 5.2 per cent; investment in materiel and equipment, for instance, has increased 11.6 per cent; deliveries in the manufacturing sector have gone up 10.9 per cent.
Quite frankly, we have done remarkably well in a pretty difficult situation. Our concern, and this includes both government members and the members of the opposition, should be the results of the vote on October 30. Because we must continue to do well.
These successes improve Canadians' quality of life. These successes can assure us of growth, of keeping our number one status, if you will, as the best country in the world. I have a few quotations here I wanted to share on the successes we have enjoyed, the successes others have applauded us for.
For example, Sherry Cooper, chief economist at Nesbitt Burns, responded to the drop in September's unemployment rate to 9.2 per cent by saying:
Today's buoyant job report is yet another arrow in the quiver of economic recovery.
That was on the CP wire on October 6.
Andrew Pyle, Path International senior economist, responding to the drop in September's unemployment rate to 9.2 per cent said:
One would expect in October barring any surprises we should see even better job growth.
Robert Fairholm, chief economist with DRI/McGraw-Hill, in reacting to the Statistics Canada report showing that the country's GDP increased by 0.1 per cent in July, said:
Pull out a microscope and you'll see growth in July. But it's an improvement and that's encouraging for the markets.
Gordon Thiessen, Governor of the Bank of Canada, said:
I know the economy is not booming along, but it is performing in such a sound way, such a basically sturdy way.
I could go on. I have another dozen quotes from influential, knowledgeable, insightful people that show the country is working. As has been said by the Prime Minister on many occasions and by many colleagues, it is not perfect but it is the best country in the world. The commitment of all of us, whatever our political preferences, political values or political ideologies, ought to be to make this country, which is the best, better still.
For this reason I hope from the bottom of my heart that the Quebecers who see all of those Canadians rallied together in Montreal will listen to their heartbeats, listen to what they have to say. Some would like to have us believe this is not real, not spontaneous. It is real, it is spontaneous.
There is a deep affection for Quebec, for Quebec men, and for Quebec women, and that affection is being manifested today in Montreal. If on October 30 we can have a no vote to separation, to the breakup of this country, we are going to continue to improve the quality of life of all Canadians, whether they live in Quebec or in other parts of the country. This is why I want a no vote, and I hope from the bottom of my heart that is exactly what the answer will be. No to separation, no to breakup, so that we can continue to progress.