Starting and running a business in British Columbia is easier thanks to BizPaL, an online business permit and licence service that saves time spent on paperwork and helps entrepreneurs start up faster.

Today, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), together with Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, welcomed the launch of BizPaL to 40 additional municipalities in British Columbia.

BizPaL is an innovative service that provides entrepreneurs with simplified access to information on the permits and licences they need to establish and run their businesses. This unique partnership among federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments is designed to cut through the paperwork burden and red tape that small business owners encounter.

The BizPaL service in these 40 municipalities was developed through a partnership with local governments, the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada. Overall, 98 municipalities in British Columbia now offer the service.

Quotes:

Linda Larson, vice-chair, Small Business Roundtable -

"BizPaL's single point of access for permit and licensing requirements is a valuable timesaver. The Small Business Roundtable recommends that every community in B.C. adopt this service to the benefit of their entrepreneurs."

Quick Facts:

The following 40 communities have adopted BizPaL:

100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Dawson Creek, Hazelton, Kitimat, Radium Hot Springs, Sparwood, Squamish, Trail, Abbotsford, Burnaby, Creston, Hudson's Hope, Lillooet, Mission, Port Coquitlam, Richmond, Vancouver, Fort St. John, Fruitvale, Vanderhoof, Hope, New Hazelton, Prince Rupert, Queen Charlotte, Terrace, Chetwynd, Elkford, Fraser Lake, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Tumbler Ridge, Esquimalt, Kimberley, Logan Lake, Fort St. James, North Saanich, Sidney, Sooke, Victoria and View Royal.

Learn More:

Area business owners and entrepreneurs can access the service by visiting the provincial website at: www.bcbizpal.ca

Or, the Government of Canada website at: http://www.bizpal.ca/

Media Contacts:

Caroline McAndrews
Communications Manager
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-0613

Scott French
Office of the Honourable Maxime Bernier
Minister of State
(Small Business and Tourism)
613 995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613 943-2502