Jonquière, Quebec,
November 16, 2006 - Attending the Journée de
l'entreprise et de la PME today, the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn,
Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development,
outlined the new measures his government has put in place in the various regions
of Quebec to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
"Since taking up this position, I have had my finger on the pulse of people
at the ground level. I have been able to see that there is a need to adapt
existing regional development measures to the realities of those Quebec regions
grappling with weak economic growth," explained Minister Blackburn. "First
and foremost, it is important to take short-term action to bring about the
creation of new enterprises and then to facilitate the transfer of existing
enterprises. This will have the effect of encouraging young people to become
entrepreneurs while stabilizing the entrepreneurial activity that already does
exist," he added.
Two new funds have thus been made available to SMEs: a venture capital
fund for business start-ups in the regions and a capital fund for business
succession. These measures are delivered in partnership with Desjardins Venture
Capital, the Fondation de l'entrepreneurship, the Community Futures
Development Corporations (CFDCs) and Business Development Centres (BDCs).
The new Government of Canada, through
Canada Economic Development, also offers a number of tools and
resources designed to strengthen and restore the economic fabric of certain
areas. One such measure is the Community Economic Diversification Initiative -
Vitality,
while another aims to support the efforts of communities wishing to secure
sustainable competitive advantages by setting up community economic facilities
promising medium- and long-term economic benefits. Lastly, the enterprise
commercialization measure has been put in place to fund the salary of a
specialist in foreign market development.
"Canada's new government has its ear tuned to the regions. I believe that the
solutions arising from the regions are representative of the needs and realities
specific to each community. This, in my view, significantly increases the
chances of success and effectiveness of locally-developed initiatives,"
Minister Blackburn noted. "That is why local advisory committees will also
be established to help paint a more accurate picture of the economic realities
of the regions," Minister Blackburn concluded.
Further details on these new measures and the terms and
conditions governing their application can be found under Working with the regions, New initiatives.
A backgrounder is attached
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Sources:
Nadia MarceauCommunicationsCanada Economic
DevelopmentTel.: 418-668-4602E-mail: nadia.marceau@dec-ced.gc.ca
Roxane MarchandPress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable
Jean-Pierre BlackburnCanada Economic
DevelopmentTel.: 819-953-5646Cell.: 613-816-5094roxane.marchand@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
