The new Franchises Act and regulations, which come into force on Feb. 1, 2017, will help ensure that a prospective entrepreneur who wants to open a franchise in British Columbia has the information and support needed to make an informed decision about whether to invest in the franchised business.

Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, and Minister Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch Coralee Oakes has issued the following statement in honour of Small Business Month:

Entrepreneurs throughout British Columbia are benefitting from local, provincial and federal government partnerships aimed at expanding two programs that cut red tape, create jobs and grow the economy.

The results are in, and five communities across British Columbia have won the Small Business Roundtable’s Open for Business Award in recognition of their efforts to support the growth of small businesses, create jobs and drive local economic growth.

As part of the Province’s commitment to cut red tape and improve access to important programs and services, the Ministry of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction announced the release of the Aboriginal Small Business Resource handout. This one-stop reference handout is tailored specifically to Aboriginal entrepreneurs, and includes information on how to access the range of services and supports available to Aboriginal small-business owners.

With summer in full swing and more British Columbians and visitors taking the time to enjoy all of our province’s beautiful outdoor offerings, it is important to remember that alcohol should not always be in the mix.

“We are disappointed with the approach Alberta has taken with recent changes to its markup rates for craft beer, which create an unfair advantage for Alberta beer at the expense of the 118 craft breweries we have here in British Columbia.