The overriding consideration of the assessment framework was the degree to which the organisation could be considered innovative in its efforts to provide access to capital to SMEs and other enterprises. [...] In order to determine the applicability to the study of a particular financing mechanism or vehicle, each was assessed in the context of the following organisational parameters: 1. the capacity to raise funds and provide debt and equity financing to small- and medium- sized enterprises in rural and northern communities; 2. the extent to which activities are undertaken to develop community capacity [...] The assessment framework that was developed outlines the following: the process and criteria to identify, categorize, and evaluate the vehicles and mechanisms; the type of quantitative and qualitative information needed to describe and analyse these vehicles/mechanisms; and the appropriate reporting format for the information gathered on each vehicle/mechanism. [...] Page 8 Access to Capital in Canada’s Northern and Rural Communities 3. PROFILE OF INSTRUCTIVE EXAMPLES OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL VEHICLES AND MECHANISMS The ten financing vehicles that are profiled in this chapter were selected on the basis of the assessment criteria described in Chapter 2. They represent the examples that display the most innovation and, thus, can provide the most insights on what wor [...] This net gain is impressive in relative terms, considering the size of the portfolio and the risky nature of several of the corporation’s investments.