Mr. Speaker, what I am in love with are the small businesses in Canada, especially in Northumberland—Quinte West, that are telling me and this government how proud they are that we are supporting them. We have lowered their taxes. I just mentioned the $1,000 tax benefit for hiring new employees.
However, what I failed also to mention, because of time constraints in this place, is what the continued support of our CFDCs and the eastern Ontario development program have done for small businesses by taking people who want start-up money and giving them a hand up, and by helping them organize their ideas into a presentable package so that they can take it to the bank and present a business plan. This is what people value, help for small businesses and help for start-up businesses.
What the member also forgot to mention when he was talking about small businesses was the fact that under this government, under the EI program, small businesses, especially those who are single entrepreneurs, now have the benefit of EI should they become pregnant. We just cannot single out one small thing we have done and put a dollar tag on it. We have done many things and when all those dollar tags are put on, as I mentioned, it far outweighs any kind of negativity.
This government supports small businesses. We have since 2006 and we will continue to do that.