Minister of State Bernier Participates in Startup Canada Day on the Hill

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 21, 2013) - The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) (Agriculture), today delivered remarks as part of Startup Canada Day taking place on Parliament Hill. Organized by Startup Canada, this event brings entrepreneurs and parliamentarians together to underscore how government can empower entrepreneurs, who drive economic growth.

"Canada's start-ups and the entrepreneurs who run them are known for their tenacity, their creativity and their innovative nature," said Minister of State Bernier. "Our job as a government is to make sure the right conditions are in place for them to grow their businesses and to succeed."

In his remarks at the Startup Canada Day event, which coincides with Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 18-24, 2013), the Minister of State underlined how Economic Action Plan 2013 promotes entrepreneurship at home, an important contributor to Canada's economic growth. Economic Action Plan 2013 also contains measures to help small business owners hire new workers and keep more of the money earned over their lifetime. The Government of Canada is delivering for small business entrepreneurs by keeping taxes low while returning to balanced budgets.

"Startup Canada represents an ever-growing group of entrepreneurs-and their supporters-in Canada," said Minister of State Bernier. "We all share the same goals: focusing on the drivers of growth and job creation, reducing the administrative burden on businesses and encouraging private sector job growth."

In Canada, small businesses represent 98 percent of all businesses, account for nearly 7 in 10 jobs in the private sector and contribute about 30 percent to the GDP, proving to be important economic drivers and sources of job creation.