July 15, 2011 — Starting and running a business in 23 municipalities across Newfoundland and Labrador is easier thanks to BizPaL, an online business permit and licence information service that saves time spent on paperwork and helps entrepreneurs start up their businesses faster.
Today, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), together with the Honourable Harry Harding, Minister of Government Services, and Mayor Harry Hallett, President of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador, welcomed the launch of BizPaL in the cities of Mount Pearl and Corner Brook and the towns of Gander, Bay Bulls, Labrador City, Paradise, Torbay, Grand Bank, St. Anthony, Ferryland, Glovertown, Port Blandford, Garnish, Buchans, Wabana, Massey Drive, Lewisporte, Channel-Port aux Basques, Conception Bay South, Clarenville, Witless Bay, Holyrood and Grand Falls–Windsor. BizPaL was originally offered in St. John's, Happy Valley–Goose Bay and Stephenville.
BizPaL is an innovative service that provides entrepreneurs with simplified access to the information on the permits and licences they need from all three levels of government to establish and run their particular businesses. This unique partnership among federal, provincial, territorial, regional and local governments is designed to cut through the paperwork burden and red tape that small business owners encounter.
"Our government is committed to providing small and medium-sized businesses with the tools they need to succeed," said Minister of State Bernier. "BizPaL is a great example of our government's commitment to cut red tape so Canadian businesses can continue to do what they do best: innovate, create jobs and generate wealth in our communities."
"Since we introduced BizPaL in this province in 2009, we have actively approached and helped municipalities to get this very important service in place for their residents and those interested in starting a business in these communities," said Minister Harding. "With these 23 additional municipalities now offering BizPaL, we have reached 26 communities with a population of over 261,000. This is a significant accomplishment since we introduced BizPaL."
"BizPaL is an important tool that helps our member municipalities connect their approval processes with permits and licences offered federally and provincially," said Mayor Hallett. "Entrepreneurs have a much easier and less complicated avenue to ensure they know their needs when setting up their businesses. We are proud that there are now 26 municipalities that offer BizPaL, and we look forward to the service being offered in many other communities in future."
Business owners and prospective entrepreneurs can access the service by visiting the various municipal web sites or www.bizpal.gov.nl.ca. The BizPaL web site also contains additional information.
Media contacts:
Hugh Donnan
Director of Communications
Department of Government Services
709-729-4860, 709-725-6511
hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca
Scott French
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Maxime Bernier
Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
613-995-9001
Sharon King
Communications Officer
Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador
709-753-6820
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
BizPaL is an online service that benefits Canadian businesses by helping them identify which permits and licences they require and how to obtain them. Entrepreneurs simply provide information on the type of business they want to start or expand and the activities they plan to undertake. BizPaL then automatically generates a list of all required permits and licences from all levels of government, along with basic information on each, and links to government sites where the entrepreneur can learn more and, in some cases, apply online.
BizPaL also benefits governments by making it easier for them to provide businesses with accurate information on permits and licences. Although the service is offered online, it can also be used through other service channels (i.e., telephone and in-person centres) to extend services to more clients.
To date, 11 provinces and territories are participating in BizPaL, with more than 520 municipalities offering the service.
Industry Canada is the lead federal department for the BizPaL initiative, supporting the centralized functions of the project. The Government of Canada is fully committed to creating a competitive business environment that supports innovation and reduces red tape. BizPaL is a complementary measure within the government's success in reducing the paperwork burden on small businesses by 20 percent.
The success of BizPaL is due in part to the multi-jurisdictional partnership among federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments. The partnership operates under a shared governance and costing model with collaborative decision making. Each jurisdiction is responsible for adding and maintaining its own information in BizPaL.
The Newfoundland and Labrador BizPaL office, located in the Department of Government Services, is charged with engaging local governments to make this important service available across Newfoundland and Labrador. BizPaL represents an integral component in helping reduce red tape.
This interactive, smart permit and licensing tool is featured on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador web site at www.bizpal.gov.nl.ca. Visit the BizPaL web site for additional information.
