To maintain this strength, we must continue to work together to sustain the viability of rural Canada. One of the files that was in my mandate letter from the Prime Minister is responsibility for rural development. Rural development not only deals with the agricultural area of this incredibly big country, it deals with fishing communities, forestry communities, mining communities, and tourism communities. There are about nine million people in rural Canada. We must preserve the strength of rural Canada.
Rural development is a priority for the government.
It was spearheaded and managed by the Rural Secretariat in the Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food. It lists and gives a one-page description of every program that is available through the Government of Canada for rural Canada. As well, I don't know whether any of you have had the opportunity to be at any of the fairs of exhibitions where one of the kiosks is this summer. We estimate that there'll be about two million Canadians that will visit those kiosks. For the most part, they're being staffed by 4-H Club members.