October 19, 2014 – Ottawa – Industry Canada
Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, James Moore, Minister of Industry, and Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) (Agriculture), today marked the beginning of the Business Development Bank of Canada's Small Business Week, which runs from October 19 to 25.
Small Business Week is an annual celebration of entrepreneurship that the Business Development Bank of Canada has been organizing for 35 years. Each year, thousands of business people come together at events across Canada to learn and network through conferences, seminars, information sessions and trade fairs.
There are over one million small and medium-sized businesses in Canada, making up 99.8 percent of all companies in Canada and employing more than 9.8 million Canadians. The new trade promotion plan under Canada's Global Markets Action Plan is ensuring small and medium-sized Canadian businesses can take advantage of the opportunities and easily access the tools and support necessary to succeed at home and abroad. The Harper Government has successfully concluded negotiations on free trade agreements with 38 countries, bringing the total to 43 countries, which represents more than half of the global economy and nearly one quarter of the world's countries.
The Government of Canada is supporting small and medium-sized Canadian businesses in numerous ways, including by cutting red tape, opening up domestic markets and helping tear down internal trade barriers. It is also helping businesses reach their export potential by enhancing coordination and alignment among the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, Export Development Canada, the Canadian Commercial Corporation and the Business Development Bank of Canada.
Jake Enwright
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Industry
613-995-9001
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
media-relations@ic.gc.ca
