Mr. Speaker, we have invested $71 million in our CFDCs in Quebec. When we include the Community Futures Network outside of Quebec, we have invested $267 million.
These are good investments because entrepreneurs in the regions often have difficulty accessing a bank or financial institution. Sometimes, the bank or credit union branch may be hundreds of kilometres from where the business is located. That is why we wanted to find a way to reach them. The CFDCs have a strong presence in the field.
I had the opportunity to speak with Hélène Deslauriers, the executive director of the Quebec CFDC network, and all board members of network last Friday. We can be proud of their efforts. They are changing the lives of entrepreneurs and our rural areas every day, especially in these times.