Ottawa, Ontario
20 October 2013
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on Small Business Week 2013:
“Small Business Week offers an opportunity to celebrate the grit, creativity and dedication of Canadian small business owners. Each and every day, these hard-working Canadians make enormous contributions to our country, by creating jobs and generating economic growth that keep our communities prosperous.
“Small businesses are key drivers of our economy, accounting for 98 per cent of all businesses in Canada, employing nearly 70 per cent of our private sector labour force and contributing approximately 40 per cent of our gross domestic product.
“Our Government recognizes the importance of small businesses and has taken significant steps to help them thrive at home and in the international marketplace, particularly during this time of global economic uncertainty. We have reduced taxes, eliminated unnecessary regulatory burdens and red tape, and increased access to new technologies and international markets, including through the historic agreement in principle that was just reached with the European Union on a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
"Economic Action Plan 2013 further advances our support by extending and expanding the temporary Hiring Credit for Small Businesses, enhancing the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption and promoting a vibrant venture capital system through further investments under the Venture Capital Action Plan.
“I call on all Canadians to join me this week in thanking small business owners and entrepreneurs for the long hours that they work and for contributing to our collective prosperity.”
