Did You Know...? - Edition 27

February 05, 2010

That… The Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State for Small Business & Tourism, recently announced on behalf of Minister Diane Finley that self-employed Canadians can now apply to receive Employment Insurance (EI) special benefits, which are maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits, on a voluntary basis. Your Government knows that families are the foundation of our great country. Self-employed Canadians can now voluntarily opt into the EI program, and as a transitional measure those who register on or before April 1, 2010, will be able to collect benefits as early as January 1, 2011. The Government is helping Canadians who have previously had little or no income protection to cope with major life events such as giving birth, caring for a newborn or newly adopted child, being sick or injured, or caring for a gravely ill family member. There are approximately 2.6 million self-employed Canadians who have long asked for this support. These hard working Canadians include small business owners, farmers, construction workers, professionals, and those who own a home business, among many others. Extending access to special benefits is the fair and right thing to do.   It is yet another way our government is supporting families and represents one of the most significant enhancements to the EI program in the last decade.  For more information please visit: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/self_employed_workers.shtml

That… Finance Minister Flaherty was joined by myself at a recent pre-budget consultation with leading private-sector economists, and announced the updated economic growth projections on which Budget 2010 is being prepared. In Budget 2010, your Government’s priority will be to continue the rapid implementation of the Economic Action Plan, while planning for deficit reduction once the economy has recovered and building a strong foundation for job creation and economic growth. As in the past, the economic assumptions on which the budget is being prepared are based on an average of the most up-to-date private-sector projections. The Department of Finance surveyed 15 private-sector forecasters in December 2009. The Budget will include an updated fiscal forecast, reflecting revenue and spending developments to date in 2009-10, updated spending plans of departments, any significant revisions from private-sector forecasters and other economic developments.

That…  I recently travelled to Parkland County in Edmonton to assist with the launch of the BizPaL service. BizPaL provides online business information about permits and licences that entrepreneurs need to know in order to start and grow their businesses. Reducing the administrative and paperwork burden on Canadian businesses improves Canada’s competitiveness and supports small businesses. To date, 11 provinces and territories are participating in BizPaL, with more than 380 municipalities offering the service, making it available to over 50 percent of the Canadian population. Starting up and growing a business is not easy. There are many rules and regulations to follow, a lot of paperwork to fill out and countless other challenges. Your government is working hard to help small business owners by lowering taxes, increasing access to financing and cutting red tape. That is why BizPaL was initiated: this online time-saving tool is a one-stop shop where entrepreneurs and business people can access permit and licence information from multiple levels of government. BizPaL is going to make a real difference – a positive difference – in how business is done. It’s going to be easier and faster for businesses to get started, to get up and running on all cylinders.

BizPaL meets the unique needs of business by customizing a list of permits and licences that an entrepreneur needs to start up or expand. It’s very easy to use. All you have to do is log onto the BizPaL website and answer some questions about your business and what it does. BizPaL will automatically generate a list of permits and licences that might be required at all three levels of government. Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, your government has taken concrete steps to help small and medium-sized enterprises succeed and to help our country recover from the global recession. The Plan increases access to financing, lowers taxes, cuts red tape, and provides small businesses with the tools necessary to fuel economic growth and job creation all across the country.
For more information please visit: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ic1.nsf/eng/05309.html