Hon. Tom Hockin (Minister for Science and Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism)):

Madam Speaker, it is wonderful to hear that the Liberal Party finally, on the second last day of the session, has discovered small business.

Mr. Hockin:

Almost every minister in this government is working on one program or another to help small business. We are very proud of what we have been able to accomplish.

Hon. Tom Hockin (Minister for Science and Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism)):

Madam Speaker, my hon. friend's question might have been appropriate 10 years ago, but if he had been with me last week when we went to see the bankers' association he would have been pleased with the increased performance under the SBLA program, a program in which we have limited the banks. They cannot take any more than a 25 per cent personal guarantee against an SBLA loan.

This has totally changed the climate. Small businesses now are applying for this in greater numbers and we expect two or three times more business under the new SBLA than under the old one.

The Minister of Finance in his last budget and also in the December statement brought forward all sorts of new possibilities for equity investment in small business, especially in allowing RRSPs to be used in new and creative ways for equity investment in small business. This government, both on the equity and debt side for small and medium enterprises, has been giving leadership across a whole range of areas and will continue with that in the next few months.

Mr. Hockin:

Madam Speaker, I do not like to be provocative but you just heard Liberals being very childish. In fact they are childish in their whole approach to small business.

The only creative idea they have ever come up with is to criticize the banks. I criticize the banks on many accounts too, especially in their approach to small business. We have more to say than simply to criticize. We have taken positive action and the performance of the Small Businesses Loans Act is the best example of that.

Mr. Hockin:

Does the hon. member want to listen to the answer?