Mr. Speaker, I listened to the comments of the member for Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière and I know of his contribution to the industry committee.
I want to remind the member, and I will read only a couple of the items, that over the last five years the Small Business Loans Act was involved in 68,250 loans worth $4.2 billion in Quebec. The Société d'aide au développement des collectivités in 2,001 loans invested some $82 million with the SMEs in Quebec. That helped create or maintain an additional 20,045 jobs. I should also bring to the attention of the member that since 1993 the business development bank was involved with some 7,878 loans worth $2 billion which was carried out through the 18 branches in Quebec.
Does the member not believe that as a result of these various programs, the entrepreneur in Quebec has various different avenues to look at to help a new business get started or to help a new small business expand? I would like his comments on that.