Minister of State Bernier Outlines Concrete Actions Taken for Depanneur Owners in Quebec

LAVAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Nov. 14, 2012) - Unnecessary red tape and the sale of contraband tobacco are at the forefront of issues facing dépanneur owners in Quebec. Today, during a speech to members of the Association québécoise des dépanneurs en alimentation, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), outlined the concrete actions that the Harper Government has taken to cut red tape and to help Canadian authorities disrupt and reduce the sale of illegal tobacco in Canada.

"Quebecers are known for their strong entrepreneurial spirit," said Minister of State Bernier. "By cutting red tape and combatting the sale of contraband tobacco, our Government is working to provide a better business environment for dépanneur owners in Quebec to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity."

The Minister of State outlined how the Harper Government fosters entrepreneurship by taking decisive action to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), including those in the convenience store and gas station industries. The RCMP is working closely with other departments and agencies, including U.S. law enforcement, to combat the trade of contraband tobacco. Also, the Canada Revenue Agency announced last spring that all tobacco products for sale in Canada must carry the federal excise stamp, indicating that the duty has been paid and the product manufactured legally.

"Our recently announced Red Tape Reduction Action Plan cuts unnecessary red tape and saves our entrepreneurs time and money," said Minister of State Bernier. "Our Government will continue to provide support for SMEs and dépanneur owners in Quebec because small businesses are the lifeline of the Canadian economy."

In Canada, small businesses account for 98 percent of companies, employ 48 percent of working Canadians and contribute about 30 per cent to the GDP, proving to be an economic driver and an important source of job creation.