Minister of State Bernier Celebrates BDC Small Business Week With Ottawa Entrepreneurs

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 17, 2012) - Today, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), delivered an address to Ottawa-area entrepreneurs during a Small Business Week breakfast event held in conjunction with several local chambers of commerce. He highlighted how the Harper Government is working to create the best business environment possible for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Following his address, the Minister of State took part in a fireside chat with Bruce Lazenby, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa.

"Our government will continue to deliver the best business environment possible for entrepreneurs by keeping taxes low, cutting red tape and promoting Canadian exports in new markets," said Minister of State Bernier. "Our most recent initiative, the Red Tape Reduction Action Plan, will cut unnecessary government red tape, responding directly to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises by saving them both time and money."

During the fireside chat, Minister of State Bernier and Mr. Lazenby covered a range of issues of importance to the Ottawa-area entrepreneurs in the audience, including small business financing, trade and the global economy.

Economic Action Plan 2012 outlined a number of measures to support small business, such as extending the temporary Hiring Credit for Small Business for one year and limiting Employment Insurance premium rate increases. It also committed $400 million to help increase private sector investments in early-stage risk capital and to support the creation of large-scale venture capital funds led by the private sector.

"Our government is on the right track, and we are continuing to deliver on our commitment to provide support to Canada's small and medium-sized enterprises, the heart of our economy," said Minister of State Bernier.

In Canada, small and medium-sized enterprises account for 99 percent of companies, employ 60 percent of working Canadians and contribute about 40 percent to the gross domestic product, proving to be economic drivers and important sources of job creation.