BUSINESS SERVICE CENTRE CELEBRATES 10 SUCCESSFUL YEARS

Released on September 8, 2004

Ten successful years of providing answers to more than one million client inquiries. That's plenty of reason to celebrate, and the Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre (CSBSC) is doing just that today.

The CSBSC, also known as business infosource, marked its 10th anniversary with an open house – 10 years to the day after its official opening in 1994.

Saskatchewan Corrections and Public Safety Minister Peter Prebble - on behalf of Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline - joined in the festivities, the kick-off to a series of planned activities celebrating a decade of service. Those activities include a client success story display at the Saskatoon and District Chamber of Commerce's Business Showcase in October, and a draw for web design services, held in partnership with the federal Student Connections program.

"The Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre provides significant assistance to new and existing entrepreneurs by simplifying the process of accessing government business information," said the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport). "It is an excellent example of governments working together to provide services to the people of Saskatchewan, and is helping us build a strong economy for the 21st century.

"The CSBSC has an outstanding record of providing 'single window' information service to entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs right across Saskatchewan," Prebble said. "Its decade of success mirrors a decade of greater diversification of our province's economy and a decade of more and more business people creating and seizing innovative business opportunities."

"The Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre has seen many technological changes since its introduction to this province a decade ago, yet our job remains the same – to provide comprehensive seamless service to our clients through the delivery channel of their choice, be it a phone call, a visit, or a click on our Web site," said business infosource manager Diana Matsuda. "As with most successful endeavours, the commitment of our staff to service excellence is the key to success."

Set up in 1994 as part of a national network, the CSBSC reduces the complexity of dealing with various levels of government by being a one-stop location for information on government services, programs and regulations. Its business information officers can answer questions about starting a new business or improving an existing one, preparing a business plan, finding new markets or getting ready to export.

In the past 10 years, Saskatchewan business officers have assisted with more than 138,000 client inquiries, while 1.16 million requests for information have been answered through self-serve methods, including an extensive Web site.

In 10 years, the CSBSC's services have grown from a telecentre that distributed business information by fax machine to offering national products such as an Interactive Business Planner, which allows clients to research and write business plans entirely
on-line, and a Talk to Us service, which offers live, on-line assistance with an officer via phone and Internet.

Across the province, 16 regional access partners bring the centre's resources to smaller communities, while a mobile library circulates information to Aboriginal Business Service Network clients. Business counselling services were added in Saskatoon and Regina in 2003, and the CSBSC is also the front line for federal and provincial trade and export information services through the national Team Canada Inc service.

Western Economic Diversification Canada is the centre's federal managing partner while Saskatchewan Industry and Resources is the provincial managing partner. Co-located with the centre, Industry and Resources' Saskatoon office also celebrates this 10-year milestone.

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For More Information, Contact:

Diana Matsuda Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre Saskatoon Phone: (306) 956-2312

Bob Ellis Industry and Resources Regina Phone: (306) 787-1691