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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10(A)



[CIBC LOGO]                                           1 Mississaga St. W.
                                                      P.O. Box 547
                                                      Orillia Ontario
                                                      L3V 6K2




                                                               October 21, 1998


Hunter Technology, Inc.
P.O. Box 400,
Orillia, Ontario
L3V-6K1
Attention: Ted Zyla, Controller

Dear Sirs:

            We, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ("CIBC"), are pleased to
establish the following Credits for you, our customer.



                              OVERALL CREDIT LIMIT

Overall Credit Limit:      The total use of Credits:

                                    Operating Line
                                    Corporate VISA

                           is not at any time to exceed $2,300,000.



                            CREDIT A: OPERATING LINE

Credit Limit:              The lesser at any time of:

                           (a)      $2,250,000; and

                           (b)      the total of

                                    i)       75% of the Receivable Value

                                    ii)      85% of the Insured Receivable
                                             Value minus all Priority Ranking
                                             Claim

Description and Rate:      A revolving demand credit, for general business
                           purposes, having the following parts:

                           (1)      Canadian dollar loans and overdrafts. The
                                    Interest Rate is as follows: Prime Rate
                                    plus .50% per year.




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Hunter Technology, Inc.


                           CREDIT B: CORPORATE VISA.

Credit Limit:              $50,000.

Documentation:             Our standard VISA documentation.



                                    SECURITY

Security:                  The following security is required:




Security Agreement
(GSA):                     All personal property of the business now owned
                           (which includes among other things inventory,
                           equipment and receivables), and all personal
                           property acquired in the future.


                                   COVENANTS

Covenants:                 You will ensure that:

                           Current Ratio: Your Current Ratio is not at any time
                           less than 1:1. Due to Parent to be excluded from the
                           calculation.

                           Debt to Effective Equity Ratio: Your Debt to
                           Effective Equity Ratio does not at any time exceed
                           1.85:1 with a goal to improve to no worse than
                           1.55:1 by fiscal year end.

                           Minimum Shareholders' Equity: The Minimum
                           Shareholders' Equity is not at any time less than
                           $4,200,000.

                           Capital Expenditures: Your total capital
                           expenditures for fixed or capital assets in the
                           current fiscal year do not exceed $500,000, without
                           our prior consent (which consent will not be
                           unreasonably withheld).


                             REPORTING REQUIREMENTS


Reporting
Requirements:              (1)      Within 15 days of each calendar month-end,
                                    a summary of Receivable Value and a Monthly
                                    Statement of Available Credit Limit, as of
                                    that month-end.


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Hunter Technology, Inc.


                           (2)      Within 30 days of the end of each fiscal
                                    quarter, financial statements for that
                                    fiscal quarter.

                           (3)      Within 90 days of each fiscal year-end,
                                    financial statements for that fiscal year
                                    on a review basis.

                           (4)      Within 90 days of each fiscal year-end, a
                                    business plan/forecast for the next fiscal
                                    year, including month-by-month projected
                                    balance sheets, income statements and cash
                                    flow projections.

                           (5)      Annual Confirmation of Insurance Coverage
                                    over Receivable Accounts.


                                      FEES

Loan Administration:       $150 per month.

Set-up:                    A fee of $5,000. (payable on acceptance of this
                           offer).

Review:                    A fee of $2,500. (payable on the Scheduled Review
                           Date).

Amendment:                 A fee of $1,000. (fee charged will reflect
                           complexity and amount of time required).



                                OTHER PROVISIONS


Default Interest Rate:     Currently 21% per year. If the Credit Limit of a
                           Credit, or the Credit Limit of part of a Credit, or
                           the Overall Credit Limit, is exceeded at any time,
                           interest at the Default Rate is calculated on that
                           excess amount.

Next Scheduled
Review Date:               April 30, 1999
Standard Credit Terms:     The attached Schedule - Standard Credit Terms forms
                           part of this Agreement.

General:                   You agree that (a) you have read this Agreement
                           (including the Schedule - Standard Credit Terms),
                           (b) CIBC has explained it to you, and (c) you
                           understand it.



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Hunter Technology, Inc.


         Please indicate your acceptance of these terms by returning a signed
copy of this Agreement. If we do not receive a signed copy by ______, then this
offer will expire.

                                       Yours truly,

                                       CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE


                                       by:   /s/ Mark MacKenzie
                                           ------------------------------------
                                       Senior Account Manager, Small Business


Acknowledgement:  The undersigned certifies that all information provided to
                  CIBC is true, and acknowledges receipt of a copy of this
                  Agreement (including any Schedules referred to above).

                  Accepted this 21st day of October  , 1998.



                  HUNTER TECHNOLOGY, INC.


                  By:      /s/ Roger Vuillod
                           --------------------------------

                  Name:    Roger Vuillod
                           --------------------------------

                  Title:   General Manager
                           --------------------------------

                  By:      /s/ Ted Zyla
                           --------------------------------

                  Name:    Ted Zyla
                           --------------------------------

                  Title:   Controller
                           --------------------------------


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[CIBC LOGO]

                        SCHEDULE - STANDARD CREDIT TERMS



                              ARTICLE 1 - GENERAL



1.1      INTEREST RATE. You will pay interest on each Credit at nominal rates
per year equal to:

  (a)    for amounts above the Credit Limit of a Credit or a part of a Credit
or the Overall Credit Limit, as described in section 1.4, or for amounts that
are not paid when due, the Default Interest Rate, and

  (b)    for any other amounts, the rate specified in this Agreement.

1.2      VARIABLE INTEREST. Each variable interest rate provided for under this
Agreement will change automatically, without notice, whenever the Prime Rate or
the U.S. Base Rate, as the case may be, changes.

1.3      PAYMENT OF INTEREST. Interest is calculated on the daily balance of
the Credit at the end of each day. Interest is due once a month, unless the
Agreement states otherwise. Unless you have made other arrangements with us, we
will automatically debit your Operating Account for interest amounts owing. If
your Operating Account is in overdraft and you do not deposit to the account an
amount equal to the monthly interest payment, the effect is that we will be
charging interest on overdue interest (which is known as compounding). Unpaid
interest continues to compound whether or not we have demanded payment from you
or started a legal action, or get judgment, against you.

1.4     DEFAULT INTEREST.  To determine whether Default Interest is to
be charged, the following rules apply:

  (a)    Default Interest will be charged on the amount that exceeds the Credit
Limit of any particular Credit. That will happen even if the Overall Credit
Limit has not been exceeded.

  (b)    If there are several parts of a Credit, Default Interest will be
charged if the Credit Limit of a particular part is exceeded. For example, if
Credit A's limit is $250,000, and the limit of one part is $100,000 and the
limit of that part is exceeded by $25,000, Default Interest will be charged on
that $25,000 excess, even if the total amount outstanding under Credit A is
less than $250,000.

  (c)    To determine if the Overall Credit Limit has been exceeded, the
outstanding principal amount of each Credit is totalled, and any amounts in
foreign currency are converted to Canadian dollars. If that total exceeds the
Overall Credit Limit, Default Interest will be charged on that excess amount.
For example, if there are three Credits, each with a Credit Limit of $100,000
and an Overall Credit Limit of $250,000, if each of those Credits is at
$90,000, they are each under their own Credit Limits, but the Overall Credit
Limit has been exceeded by $20,000, and Default Interest will be charged on
that excess amount.

1.5      FEES. You will pay CIBC's fees for each Credit as out lined in the
Letter. You will also reimburse us for all reasonable fees (including legal
fees) and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in registering any security, and in
enforcing our rights under this Agreement or any security. We will
automatically debit your Operating Account for fee amounts owing.

1.6      OUR RIGHTS RE DEMAND CREDITS. At CIBC, we believe that the
banker-customer relationship is based on mutual trust and respect. It is
important for us to know all the relevant information (whether good or bad)
about your business. CIBC is itself a business. Managing risks and monitoring
our customers' ability to repay is critical to us. We can only continue to lend
when we feel that we are likely to be repaid. As a result, if you do something
that jeopardizes that relationship, or if we no longer feel that you are likely
to repay all amounts borrowed, we may have to act. We may decide to act, for
example, because of something you have done, information we receive about your
business, or changes to the economy that affect your business. Some of the
actions that we may decide to take include requiring you to give us more
financial information, negotiating a change in the interest rate or fees, or
asking you to get further accounting assistance, put more cash into the
business, provide more security, or produce a satisfactory business plan. It is
important to us that your business succeeds. We may, however, at our
discretion, demand immediate repayment of any outstanding amounts under any
demand Credit. We may also, at any time and for any cause, cancel the unused
portion of any demand Credit. Under normal circumstances, however, we will give
you 30 days' notice of any of these actions.

1.7      PAYMENTS. If any payment is due on a day other than a Business Day,
then the payment is due on the next Business Day.

1.8      APPLYING MONEY RECEIVED. If you have not made payments as required by
this Agreement, or if you have failed to satisfy any term of this Agreement (or
any other agreement you have that relates to this Agreement), or at any time
before default but after we have given you appropriate notice, we may decide
how to apply any money that we receive. This means that we may choose which
Credit to apply the money against, or what mix of principal, interest, fees and
overdue amounts within any Credit will be paid.

1.9      INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS. We may from time to time reasonably require
you to provide further information about your business. We may require
information from you to be in a form acceptable to us.

1.10     INSURANCE. You will keep all your business assets and property insured
(to the full insurable value) against loss or damage by fire and all other
risks usual for property such as yours (plus for any other risks we may
reasonably require). If we request, these policies will include a loss payee
clause (and if you are giving us mortgage security, a mortgagee clause). As
further security, you assign all insurance proceeds to us. If we ask, you will
give us either the policies themselves or adequate evidence of their existence.
If your insurance coverage for any reason stops, we may (but do not have to)
insure the property. We will automatically debit your Operating Account for
these amounts. Finally, you will notify us immediately of any loss or damage to
the property.

1.11     ENVIRONMENTAL. You will carry on your business, and maintain your
assets and property, in accordance with all applicable environmental laws and
regulations. If (a) there is any release, deposit, discharge or disposal of
pollutants of any sort (collectively, a "Discharge") in connection with either
your business or your property, and we pay any fines or for any clean-up, or
(b) we suffer any loss or damage as a result of any Discharge, you will
reimburse CIBC, its directors, officers, employees and agents for any and all
losses, damages, fines, costs and other amounts (including amounts spent
preparing any necessary environmental assessment or other reports, or defending
any lawsuits) that result. If we ask, you will defend any lawsuits,
investigations or prosecutions brought against

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CIBC or any of its directors, officers, employees and agents in connection with
any Discharge. Your obligation to us under this section continues even after
all Credits have been repaid and this Agreement has terminated.

1.12     CONSENT TO RELEASE INFORMATION. We may from time to time give any
credit or other information about you to, or receive such information from, (a)
any financial institution, credit reporting agency, rating agency or credit
bureau, (b) any person, firm or corporation with whom you may have or propose
to have financial dealings, and (c) any person, firm or corporation in
connection with any dealings you have or propose to have with us. You agree
that we may use that information to establish and maintain your relationship
with us and to offer any services as permitted by law, including services and
products offered by our subsidiaries when it is considered that this may be
suitable to you.

1.13     OUR PRICING POLICY. Fees, interest rates and other charges for your
banking arrangements are dependent upon each other. If you decide to cancel any
of these arrangements, you will have to pay us any increased or added fees,
interest rates and charges we determine and notify you of. These increased or
added amounts are effective from the date of the changes that you make.

1.14     PROOF OF DEBT. This Agreement provides the proof, between CIBC and
you, of the credit made available to you. There may be times when the type of
Credit you have requires you to sign additional documents. Throughout the time
that we provide you credit under this Agreement, our loan accounting records
will provide complete proof of all terms and conditions of your credit (such as
principal loan balances, interest calculations, and payment dates).

1.15     RENEWALS OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement will remain in effect for
your Credits for as long as they remain unchanged. We have shown a Next
Scheduled Review Date in the Letter. If there are no changes to the Credits
this Agreement will continue to apply, and you will not need to sign anything
further. If there are any changes, we will provide you with either an amending
agreement, or a new replacement Letter, for you to sign.

1.16     CONFIDENTIALITY. The terms of this Agreement are confidential between
you and CIBC. You therefore agree not to disclose the contents of this
Agreement to anyone except your professional advisors.

1.17     PRE-CONDITIONS. You may use the Credits granted to you under this
Agreement only if:

  (a)    we have received properly signed copies of all documentation that we
may require in connection with the operation of your accounts and your ability
to borrow and give security;

  (b)    all the required security has been received and registered to our
satisfaction;

  (c)    any special provisions or conditions set forth in the Letter have been
complied with; and

  (d)    if applicable, you have given us the required number of days notice for
a drawing under a Credit.

1.18     NOTICES. We may give you any notice in person or by telephone, or by
letter that is sent either by fax or by mail.

1.19     USE OF THE OPERATING LINE. You will use your Operating Line only for
your business operating cash needs. You are responsible for all debits from the
Operating Account that you have either initiated (such as cheques, loan
payments, pre-authorized debits, etc.) or authorized us to make. Payments are
made by making deposits to the Operating Account. You may not at any time
exceed the Credit Limit. We may, without notice to you, return any debit from
the Operating Account that, if paid, would result in the Credit Limit being
exceeded, unless you have made prior arrangements with us. If we pay any of
these debits, you must repay us immediately the amount by which the Credit
Limit is exceeded.

1.20     MARGIN REQUIREMENTS. If your Operating Line is margined against
Inventory and/or Receivable Value, the available Credit Limit of that Credit is
the lesser of the Credit Limit stated in the Letter and the amount calculated
using the Monthly Statement of Available Credit Limit.

                            ARTICLE 2 - DEFINITIONS

2.1      DEFINITIONS. In this Agreement, the following terms have the following
meanings:

"Business Day" means any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) that the CIBC
Branch/Centre is open for business.

"CIBC Branch/Centre" means the CIBC branch or banking centre noted on the first
page of this Agreement, as changed from time to time by agreement between the
parties.

"Credit" means any credit referred to in the Letter, and if there are two or
more parts to a Credit, "Credit" includes reference to each part.

"Credit Limit" of any Credit means the amount specified in the Letter as its
Credit Limit, and if there are two or more parts to a Credit, "Credit Limit"
includes reference to each such part.

"Current Assets" are cash, accounts receivable, inventory and other assets that
are likely to be converted into cash, sold, exchanged or expended in the normal
course of business within one year or less, excluding amounts due from related
parties.

"Current Liabilities" means debts that are or will become payable within one
year or one operating cycle, whichever is longer, excluding amounts due to
related parties, and which will require Current Assets to pay. They usually
include accounts payable, accrued expenses, deferred revenue and the current
portion of long-term debt.

"Current Ratio" means the ratio of Current Assets to Current Liabilities.

"Debt to Effective Equity Ratio" means the ratio of X to Y, where
         X is the total of all liabilities, less all Postponed Debt, and
         Y is the total Shareholders' Equity, plus all Postponed Debt,
         less (i) amounts due from/investments in related parties and
         (ii) Intangibles.

"Default Interest Rate", unless otherwise defined in the Letter, means the
Standard Overdraft Rate.

"Intangibles" means assets of the business that have no value in themselves but
represent value. They include such things as copyright, patents and trademarks;
franchises; licences; leases; research and development costs; and deferred
development costs.

"Letter" means the letter agreement between you and CIBC to which this Schedule
and any other Schedules are attached.

"Minimum Shareholders' Equity" means the total Shareholders' Equity, minus (a)
amounts due from/investments in related parties, and the value of all
Intangibles, plus (b) all Postponed Debt.

"Monthly Statement of Available Credit Limit" means the CIBC form by that name,
as it may from time to time be changed.

"Operating Account" means the account that you normally use for the day-to-day
cash needs of your business, and may be either or both of a Canadian dollar and
a U.S. dollar account.

"Postponed Debt" means any debt owed by you that has been formally postponed to
CIBC.


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"Prime Rate" means the variable reference rate of interest per year declared by
CIBC from time to time to be its prime rate for Canadian dollar loans made by
CIBC in Canada.

"Prime Rate Loan" means a Canadian dollar loan on which interest is calculated
by reference to Prime Rate.

"Priority Ranking Claim" means any amount owing to a creditor that ranks, or
may rank, equal to or in priority to our security. These may include unremitted
source deductions and taxes; other amounts owing to governments and
governmental bodies; and amounts owing to creditors who may claim priority
under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act or under a purchase money security
interest in inventory or equipment.

"Receivable Value" means, at any time of determination, the total value of
those of your trade accounts receivable, including accounts domiciled in the
United States, that are subject to the security (other than those accounts:

     (i)   outstanding for 90 days or more,

     (ii)  owing by persons, firms or corporations affiliated to you, and

     (iii) that we may from time to time designate.

"Shareholders' Equity" means paid-in capital, retained earnings and attributed
or contributed surplus.

"Standard Overdraft Rate" means the variable reference interest rate per year
declared by CIBC from time to time to be its standard overdraft rate on
overdrafts in Canadian or U.S. dollar accounts maintained with CIBC in Canada.





















































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