Thank you. This funding is crucial capital for entrepreneurs and for businesses that are looking to develop, to grow, and to pursue expansion, and there is just not a lot of private equity out there being floated to northern businesses. I see this fund as a key way that the government can help diversify the economy directly, and yet, we do not see substantial increases to this pot of money.
I recall a couple of years ago when similar arguments were being made to increase the Mineral Incentive Program, which was done, and currently that fund pays out and is contributing a lot to our economy. Why aren't we taking the same approach with this vital fund? The answer, often, when we are raising questions on behalf of our constituents who are looking to access more government support, when we are looking at the general state of the economy, the answer is often, "Go to the SEED fund," and the SEED fund too frequently runs out.
Why are we not putting more resources into this fund, which is a very useful way to contribute to the economy, to diversify the economy, and to get entrepreneurs the capital that isn't as freely flowing to them from private capital institutions? Thank you.