Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to mention another strategic initiative on the part of our government.
On January 31, the Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec announced in Montreal that five partnership agreements had been reached with five different financial institutions.
These agreements will result in the setting up of loan programs to provide better access to financing for small and medium size businesses in the new economy, which are the ones that best reflect the future of our country. A total of $150 million will be made available to Quebec's technology based businesses.
Our government just fulfilled another commitment made to entrepreneurs in this country, namely to provide them with better means to ensure their own growth and to create long term jobs for all Canadians.