Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business Naomi Yamamoto released the following statement to kick off National Small Business Week in Canada (Oct. 20-26, 2013):

"Small businesses are the heart and soul of communities, and National Small Business Month gives us an opportunity to celebrate small business success 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 Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) over the past 10 years to grow the small-business sector in British Columbia.

"Over that same period, 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 per cent - a 44 per cent reduction. This remains the second lowest rate in Canada, and we are committed to lowering the rate by a further 40 per cent under the BC Jobs Plan.

"The CFIB recently gave B.C. an 'A' for regulatory reform - the only province in Canada to receive an 'A'. The B.C. 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.

"As part of National Small Business Day celebrations, CFIB is promoting Shop Small Business Day on Oct. 25. 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:

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