SURREY - October is Small Business Month in B.C. - a chance to celebrate programs, services and organizations that help British Columbians succeed.

Small businesses help build strong local economies, and a strong B.C. economy ensures that communities across this province remain vibrant. It ensures that people are able to provide for their families and that our children are able to look forward to a bright future. That's not just good for individuals and their families - it's good for British Columbia.

Business is the economic engine of our province, and small business is the heart and soul of our communities. Making sure our entrepreneurs and small-business owners have the environment they need to maintain this momentum is one of government's key priorities. We are committed to working with partner organizations throughout the province, including non-profit organizations and all levels of government, to achieve this goal.

To that end, I'd like to offer my thanks to all of the organizations that deliver programs and services that are making a tremendous difference in the lives of British Columbians every day. I recently met with one such organization, the Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society - they are helping budding entrepreneurs to get their businesses started through a number of their programs. Small Business BC is another organization that offers a one-stop online resource for small-business supports and services: www.smallbusinessbc.ca

Next week, I will have the honour of launching a new tool to further support small business success in B.C. We have been working closely with the BC Innovation Council to develop an online portal that will help budding entrepreneurs connect with mentors in their communities.

The B.C. government has a goal to make B.C. the most small-business friendly jurisdiction in Canada, and we will continue to find ways to help people turn their business ideas into business plans, and then get those plans off the ground and on the path to success. I encourage everyone to take the time to thank a small business owner in your community.

Contact:

Media Relations
Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business
250 387-2799