The City of Courtenay joins BizPaL, Strengthening Local Businesses

News release

Free online business permit and licence service saves time, reduces administrative burden and helps entrepreneurs

June 28, 2019 – Courtenay, British Columbia

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

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion and the Honourable Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology for British Columbia, are pleased to announce the implementation of BizPaL in the municipality of Courtenay, BC.

Courtenay’s signing on to the BizPaL program, brings the total number of British Columbia’s local governments involved in the service to 131. The city of Courtenay joins over 1,000 other Canadian cities, towns, regional districts and First Nations participating in this online information service.

This free online application is a directory of the permits and licences required to start or run a business. BizPaL saves business people time searching for information and, as a result, helps them meet their obligations more easily. The BizPaL program is the result of a unique partnership among federal, provincial, territorial and local governments.

For more information on the BizPaL program, please visit https://www.bcbizpal.ca.

Quotes

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and employ millions of hardworking Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Our government is helping small businesses start up, scale up and access new markets and making it easier for them to do business. Small business owners will tell you that few things are as valuable as time and that’s why services like BizPal, that provide customized lists of what permits and licences a small business need, are so essential. ”
– The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion 

“When small businesses work with government, they expect processes that are simple, clear and efficient. Courtenay has joined municipalities and business owners across B.C. who recognize the value of BizPaL’s central online tool. The Province is proud to be a partner in this innovative service that saves small business owners time that can be used to help grow their business.”
– The Honourable Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology, B.C. government

“The BizPaL tool will make it easier for small businesses in Courtenay to access the information they need from all levels of government. As a small business owner, I know how challenging it can be to navigate permit requirements and processes, and BizPaL walks you through it step by step. I’m really pleased that we’re now able to offer this service to our community.”
– Bob Wells, Mayor, City of Courtenay  

Quick facts

  • BizPaL is a unique collaboration across all levels of government that helps entrepreneurs find out which permits and licences they require to start and grow their businesses.

  • All provinces and territories participate in BizPaL, with more than 1,055 municipalities and 4 First Nations offering the service, making it available to 80 percent of the Canadian population.

Related products

Associated links

Contacts

Corinne Havard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion
corinne.havard@canada.ca

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca

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