 Bonjour tout le monde. Hello everyone from Ottawa, unceded Algonquin territory. Thank you, Mary, for all your outstanding work as Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. It's great to be joined today by members of our own team and leaders within banks and organizations from across the country. I know you're all committed to addressing structural barriers faced by black entrepreneurs and business owners, so thank you for being here this morning. But before I get into why we're here today, I want to talk about the heartbreaking news that 215 children were found buried at the former Kamloops residential school. 215 children. Think of their loving families that they were ripped away from. Think of the communities that never saw them again. Think of their hopes, their dreams, their potential. Of all they would have accomplished, all they would have become. All of that was taken away. These were children who deserved to be happy, most of all. They deserved to be safe. As a dad, I can't imagine what it would feel like to have my kids taken away from me. And as Prime Minister, I am appalled by the shameful policy that stole Indigenous children from their communities. Our thoughts are with Te Kamloops, Te Swip, Muck First Nation, and with all Indigenous communities across Canada. Sadly, this is not an exception or an isolated incident. We're not going to hide from that. We have to acknowledge the truth. Residential schools were a reality, a tragedy that existed here in our country, and we have to own up to it. Kids were taken from their families, returned damaged, or not returned at all with no explanations until this week. People are hurting, and we must be there for survivors. Later this afternoon, I'll be talking directly with Ministers Bennett, Miller and Vandal, and with all Ministers about the next and further things we need to do to support survivors and the community. We promised concrete action, and that's how we'll support survivors, families and Indigenous peoples. To honour the 215 children who lost their lives at the former Kamloops pensioner, as well as the survivors of the pensioners and their families, the flags of the federal buildings will be in Bern until the new order. It's important to make awareness and education about this dark chapter in the history of our country. The tragic pensioners' legacy is still present today, and our government will continue to support them with concrete actions, the survivors, their families and their communities throughout the country. And now I want to talk about today's announcement. Lately, we've been focusing a lot on building back better. Today, we're here to take yet another step in making that stronger, more equal future a reality for all Canadians. Whether it's the business organisations I met last year with Greg, or people like Fahiye, who I spoke with with Marcy about his growing coffee business, I've seen firsthand how hard you as black entrepreneurs work, and how much you do to create jobs and lift communities up. I've also heard you when you talk about the challenges you face too, and this includes accessing loans and capital from financial institutions. For far too long, black Canadians have faced systemic barriers when it comes to starting or growing a business. That's why the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund launches today. This $291 million fund will allow black entrepreneurs and business owners to access loans from $25,000 to $250,000. Today's announcement builds on the work we've already started through the first-ever black entrepreneurship program we announced last fall, a program that includes investments in everything from mentorship to financial planning. To black entrepreneurs and business owners in Canada, our government has heard you, and we're working with you. Because we know that to rebuild an economy that works for everyone, we must break down the barriers you face to create real economic inclusion. We know that black entrepreneurs have the talent and the necessary ideas to move forward. Today, with the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, we want to give you even more tools to succeed. To build a country that works for everyone, we must ensure that our economy is inclusive. In this regard, I would like to thank the African-Canadian African-American Federation for their support, as well as the financial institutions that work in partnership with the federal government for this fund. With you, we will allow more people to have a chance to grow their business and achieve their dreams. Already, black entrepreneurs and business owners contribute so much to our community and our economy. With the black business owners I've met who talk not just about building their own future but about giving back to those around them. With the right tools and support these entrepreneurs, we'll be able to create even more good jobs and even more opportunities for people across the country. Supporting black businesses with long-term solutions is an important step forward to build the Canada we want with a strong economy where everyone has a real and fair chance at success. Today's announcement is a step in the right direction, but we know there's still a lot of work to be done. We also know that the pandemic has affected the black community disproportionately. While we fight systemic racism that black Canadians live in the world of business, we must also continue to work to eliminate inequalities elsewhere, for example in the health system or the justice system. More than ever, when we rebuild our economy, our government will continue to be there to ensure that the voice of everyone is heard. Thank you.