By Naomi Yamamoto
Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business

VICTORIA - Small businesses are the heart and soul of communities, and National Small Business Week which runs from October 19-25, 2014, gives us an opportunity to celebrate small business success at home and beyond our provincial border.

The B.C. Government is committed to making B.C. the most small-business friendly jurisdiction in Canada, and we are working hard to ensure that small businesses have the support they need to grow and succeed. That's one of the reasons we have been working closely with the BC Chamber of Commerce and the local Chamber network to create an environment in British Columbia for small businesses to thrive. Government is already leading the country in the fight against red tape, but we know there is more we can do to support small businesses in B.C.

Since 2001, the B.C. Government has cut more than 150,000 regulatory requirements and reduced the small-business corporate income tax rate from 4.5 to 2.5% - a 44% reduction. This remains one of the lowest rates in Canada, and we are committed to lowering the rate by a further 40% under the BC Jobs Plan.

As part of National Small Business Week celebrations, Shop Small Business Day is taking place on Oct. 25, 2014. I encourage all British Columbians to celebrate small businesses in their communities by getting out and shopping local. Together, we can all help support small-business success.

Media Contact:

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