VERNON JOINS THE BIZPAL NETWORK

VERNON – Opening a new business in Vernon just became easier thanks to BizPaL, a new online business permit and licence service that saves time spent on paperwork and helps entrepreneurs start up faster.

The launch of BizPaL in Vernon was welcomed today by Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes, on behalf of Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, together with Tom Christensen, Minister of Children and Family Development and MLA for Okanagan-Vernon, and Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert.

“BizPaL will make it easier for people in Vernon to get the licences and permits they need to start up and grow their business,” said Mayes. “Our government’s economic plan, laid out in Advantage Canada, demonstrates our commitment to fostering an innovative and entrepreneurial business environment.”

“BizPaL is another way our government is supporting the success of local businesses,” said Christensen. “This is occurring, in part, due to our government’s commitment to a competitive tax system and reduced regulatory burden on British Columbians.”

BizPaL is an innovative project that provides entrepreneurs with simplified access to the information on permits and licences that they need to establish and run their businesses. This unique partnership among federal, provincial, territorial, regional and local governments is designed to cut through the paperwork burden and red tape that small business owners encounter.

“We are very pleased to provide local business owners with this important business tool. BizPaL is an excellent guide to any business wishing to set-up and establish in our city,” said Lippert. “Vernon takes an active lead in support of initiatives like BizPaL that facilitate the new business owner in accessing critical business start-up information.”

“BizPaL is a user-friendly, time-saving tool to help cut red tape and reflect our government’s commitment to making British Columbia Canada’s most small-business-friendly jurisdiction,” said Kevin Krueger, Minister of Small Business and Revenue and Minister responsible for Regulatory Reform. “This is what can be achieved when all levels of government work together in partnership.”

The BizPaL service in Vernon was developed with the support of Industry Canada, in collaboration with the City of Vernon and the Province of British Columbia. Area business owners and entrepreneurs can access the service by visiting www.vernon.ca/bizpal.

The BizPaL program was recently recognized for its successes with a Premier’s Innovation and Excellence award in the Partnerships category. The goal is to have BizPaL available to all municipalities in British Columbia by 2010.

Visit www.bcBizPaL.ca for additional project history and information and to access the websites of participating partners.

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Contact:

Catherine Godbout

Office of the Honourable Diane Ablonczy

Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)

613 947-5856

Media Relations

Industry Canada

613 943-2502

Christine Wood

Communications Director

Ministry of Small Business and Revenue

250 387-4193

Liz Williams

Media Liaison Officer

City of Vernon

250 550-3539




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