CELEBRATING SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

By Kevin Krueger

Minister of Small Business and Revenue

Oct. 3, 2008

(404 words)

As the new Minister of Small Business and Revenue, I am very pleased to be participating in British Columbia’s second annual Small Business Month, proclaimed Oct. 1, 2008. Our government is working hard to cultivate strong partnerships to support small business in B.C.

Small Business Month offers many exciting opportunities to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship by showcasing this sector’s strengths and the critical role it plays in B.C.’s diverse economy.

With close to 380,000 small businesses in the province, it is clear that small business is big business in British Columbia. Ninety-eight per cent of all businesses in British Columbia are small businesses, which provide employment for over one million people and provide 57 per cent of British Columbia’s private sector jobs.

British Columbia is leading the country in small business growth. One of the reasons for the success of our small business sector is a willingness to adapt to change and quickly identify niche markets. The impact of global warming has supported an economic shift towards sustainable solutions and British Columbia’s small business sector is leading the way. Two-thirds of British Columbia’s small businesses are putting their cleaner, greener vision to good use by adopting climate action solutions. Several of the 15 clean energy projects supported by the Province’s $25-million Innovative Clean Energy Fund involve British Columbia small businesses.

I believe partnerships like these are paving the way for the sustained growth and strength of our small business sector. The permanent Small Business Roundtable, established in 2005, provides an excellent link between our government and small business, giving the small business community a strong voice. Roundtable recommendations have resulted in numerous small business improvements including: a simplified and straightforward regulatory environment; innovative projects directed at rural communities such as BizPaL and the Mobile Business Licence project; Provincial Sales Tax Reviews that will save taxpayers $129 million over the next three years; and continuous enhancements to the Taxpayer Fairness and Service Code.

Small Business Month is our opportunity to recognize and thank the hundreds of thousands of men and women in this province whose passion, energy, dedication and commitment have created such a dynamic sector. Small business is a primary source of job creation and an economic driver that has transformed British Columbia into a national leader in small business growth. By working together to reduce barriers, I know we will continue to be the most small-business-friendly jurisdiction in Canada.

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