Ottawa, September 30, 2010 - The Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), today announced the launch of a private sector committee. This new committee will provide advice to the Government of Canada on a wide range of issues of importance to small and medium-sized businesses, such as reducing red tape and improving access to federal programs and information.
"Small businesses are the engines of growth of our economy," said Minister of State Moore. "That is why our government is committed to working with the private sector to implement meaningful change for small businesses. Our goal is to continue to support small businesses as they create jobs in our communities and lead our country into recovery."
Canada's Economic Action Plan announced the creation of the private sector Advisory Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ACSBE), which is part of the Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative. The ACSBE will be composed of experienced small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Iain Klugman, President and CEO of Communitech, a technology association in Waterloo Region, has been selected as Chair of the ACSBE. Mr. Klugman was chosen for this role because of his extensive experience in the public and private sectors, his strong leadership skills and his ongoing commitment to supporting entrepreneurship.
"I am honoured to have been chosen as Chair of the Advisory Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship," said Mr. Klugman. "This presents an exciting opportunity for small businesses to provide advice to the government on issues of greatest importance to them."
ACSBE members include David Aisenstat (Keg Restaurants Ltd.), Harry Chemko (Elastic Path Software Inc.), Charles Desjardins (Absolunet), Linda Ford (Access Career Solutions Inc.), Sophie Forest (Brightspark), Mike Howes (DKC Sparklean), Kerry McLellan (Kinek Technologies Inc.), Corinne Pohlmann (Canadian Federation of Independent Business) and John Wall (R.J. Moving and Storage Ltd.).
The new committee will build on the work of the former Advisory Committee on Paperwork Burden Reduction, a public-private sector working group whose advice was instrumental in helping the Government of Canada achieve its goal of reducing the paperwork burden on small businesses by 20 percent.
The government's Economic Action Plan supports Canada's small businesses through a variety of measures, such as tax relief, ensuring access to credit, and funding programs and services that help businesses develop and stay competitive.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Catherine Godbout
Office of the Honourable Rob Moore
Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
613-943-7023
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
The Advisory Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ACSBE) is a private sector committee mandated to advise the government on a wide range of issues of importance to small and medium-sized businesses, such as reducing paperwork burden and improving business access to federal programs and information.
The new committee is made up of experienced small business owners and entrepreneurs and is chaired by Iain Klugman, President and CEO of Communitech, a technology association in Waterloo Region. The ACSBE reports to the government through the Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism).
The creation of this private sector committee was first announced in Budget 2010 as part of the Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative.
The new committee will build on the work of the former Advisory Committee on Paperwork Burden Reduction (ACPBR) and provide the government with information, advice and recommendations on the most important concerns facing Canada's small businesses. The ACSBE was a public-private sector working group co-chaired by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and Industry Canada. Its mandate concluded in 2009. Based on the recommendations of the ACSBE, 14 federal departments and agencies worked together to achieve a 20-percent reduction in paperwork burden by streamlining regulations, eliminating duplicate requirements and overlapping obligations, and reducing filing requirements and frequency.
Creating an environment that is supportive of small business growth is a cornerstone of Advantage Canada (2006). This commitment has been underlined in subsequent budgets, including Canada's Economic Action Plan.
Budget 2007 responded to the demands of small business with major initiatives aimed at reducing taxes, lessening the paperwork burden and improving access to skilled labour.
Budget 2008 reaffirmed the Government of Canada's commitment to reducing the paperwork requirements of small businesses by 20 percent and outlined complementary measures that would reduce the burden on small businesses for complying with government regulations. Budget 2008 also announced changes to the Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program and provided further tax reductions and tax incentives for investment.
Canada's Economic Action Plan further supports business by facilitating access to credit, providing tax relief, cutting red tape and funding various programs and services that help businesses stay competitive.
