Governments of Canada and British Columbia Join Forces to Launch BizPaL

CUMBERLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 25, 2015) -

Starting and running a business in Cumberland just became easier thanks to BizPaL, an online business permit and licence service that saves time spent on paperwork and helps entrepreneurs start up faster.

The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) (Agriculture); the Honourable Naomi Yamamoto, British Columbia Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business; and Leslie Baird, Mayor of the Village of Cumberland, announced the implementation of BizPaL in Cumberland.

This free online application is a directory of the permits and licences required to start or run a business. BizPaL saves business people time searching for information and, as a result, helps them meet their obligations more easily.

Quick facts

• BizPaL is an innovative service that provides entrepreneurs with simplified access to information on the permits and licences they need to establish and run their businesses.
• BizPaL is a unique partnership between the federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments.
• Through improved access to financing, increased support for mentoring, and new tools and resources to assist entrepreneurs, Economic Action Plan 2015 will continue to encourage and support the growth and success of small businesses in Canada.
• In Canada, over 99 percent of businesses are either small or medium-sized and contribute significantly to job creation, economic growth and the GDP.

Quotes

"BizPaL is an innovative online resource that helps entrepreneurs spend more time building their business by reducing red tape and providing them with valuable business information, both quickly and easily. Small businesses are key contributors to our GDP: they strengthen our economy and they create jobs in British Columbia, which is why our government is delivering on its promise to build a stronger entrepreneurial culture in Canada."

- Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) (Agriculture)

"We want to make B.C. the most business-friendly environment in Canada. Services like BizPaL are practical tools that reduce paperwork and red tape and are designed to save time and money for entrepreneurs opening new businesses in communities like Cumberland."

- Naomi Yamamoto, British Columbia Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business

"Cumberland is on the verge of something really exciting. With its small-town feel, Cumberland is attracting a younger generation of residents, and our eclectic business community is primed for growth. Having BizPaL available for entrepreneurs to find information on starting, operating and growing their businesses is a vital service in a community like ours. BizPaL will make setting up shop easier and will support small business in our historic village commercial core and the growth of our industrial areas."

- Leslie Baird, Mayor of the Village of Cumberland

Related product

- Backgrounder

Associated links

- BizPaL website

- BC BizPaL website

- The Village of Cumberland - BizPaL

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Backgrounder

BizPaL Simplifies Access to Information on Permits and Licences for Canadian Businesses

BizPaL is an online service that benefits Canadian businesses by helping them identify which permits and licences they require and how to obtain them. Entrepreneurs simply select the business activities they plan to undertake, and BizPaL then automatically generates a list of required permits and licences from all levels of government, along with basic information on each. The list also includes links to the various government websites where entrepreneurs can learn more and, in some cases, apply online.

BizPaL also benefits governments by making it easier for them to provide businesses with accurate information on permits and licences. All provinces and territories are participating in BizPaL, with more than 750 municipalities offering the service. Visit the BizPaL website for a complete list of participating jurisdictions.

Industry Canada is the lead federal department for BizPaL, supporting the centralized functions of the service. The Government of Canada is fully committed to creating a competitive business environment that supports innovation and reduces red tape. BizPaL has contributed to the government's success in reducing the paperwork burden on small businesses.

The success of BizPaL is due in part to the multi-jurisdictional partnership among federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments. The partnership operates under a shared governance and costing model with collaborative decision making. Each jurisdiction is responsible for adding and maintaining its own information in BizPaL.

This interactive, smart permit and licence search tool is featured on the provincial BizPaL website. Visit the BizPaL website for additional information.