Mr. Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre, NDP): Mr. Speaker, we have known for some time that the Liberal Party has always benefited from technology partnerships loans. When it gave $87 million to Bombardier, Bombardier dutifully coughed up $411,000 back in political campaign contributions. We did not realize that individual Liberals were benefiting from technology partnerships loans.

    Will the Minister of Industry confirm that the company under the ownership and direction of the member for LaSalle--Émard received a $4.9 million technology partnerships loan? More important, did he ever pay it back?

    Hon. Allan Rock (Minister of Industry, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, first of all, these are not loans, they are investments which create jobs in this country. Second, they are not made until the professionals at technology partnerships Canada have completed due diligence to ensure that they are good investments that will have returns and will produce further economic activity for Canada. All of those criteria were satisfied in all of these cases.