NEW SERVICE FOR BUSINESS LAUNCHED IN ESTEVAN

Released on September 11, 2007

Starting and running a business in Estevan and Arcola just became easier thanks to BizPaL, a new online business permit and licence service that reduces the time entrepreneurs spend on paperwork.

Ed Komarnicki, MP Souris-Moose Mountain on behalf of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, Estevan Mayor Garry St. Onge, and Industry and Resources Director of Competitiveness Angela Schmidt on behalf of Industry and Resources Minister Maynard Sonntag today welcomed the launch of BizPaL to the City of Estevan, the Rural Municipality of Estevan and the Town of Arcola.

BizPaL is an innovative project that provides entrepreneurs with simplified access to the information on permits and licences they need to establish and run their business. This unique partnership among federal, provincial, territorial and local governments is designed to cut through the paperwork burden and red tape that small business owners may encounter.

"Through BizPaL, small business can invest more time and energy creating new opportunities and spend less time and energy on paperwork," said Komarnicki. "Canada's New Government is committed to working with our provincial and municipal partners to give small business the tools they need to grow."

"Like its name implies, BizPaL is yet another example of how our provincial government is making Saskatchewan a friendly place to do business," Sonntag said.  "We've already created a positive investment climate in this province through the largest business tax cuts in Saskatchewan history.  Now, with BizPal, we're providing a simple, accessible process through which businesses can find detailed and customized information about the permits and licences they need in participating Saskatchewan jurisdictions."

"The City of Estevan is open for business and welcomes BizPaL as it will contribute to stimulating the business climate and make our city a better place for all citizens," St. Onge said. "We are experiencing rapid growth especially in commerce and Bizpal will facilitate the establishment of businesses by making permit and licensing just a computer click away."
The BizPaL service in the City of Estevan, the Rural Municipality of Estevan and the Town of Arcola was developed in collaboration with Industry Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan.

"Streamlining permits and licences for entrepreneurs will reduce the complexity of the approval process and save entrepreneurs valuable time and money," Canadian Federation of Independent Business Vice President, Saskatchewan and Agri-business Marilyn Braun-Pollon said. "We strongly support the implementation of BizPaL in Saskatchewan and congratulate all Saskatchewan communities who have joined the BizPaL service while encouraging communities not yet involved to participate."

Area business owners and entrepreneurs can access the service by visiting www.bizpal.gov.sk.ca. The province is looking forward to expanding BizPaL to other areas of Saskatchewan over the next year.

Visit www.bizpal.ca for additional project history and information, as well as to access the websites of participating partners.

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For more information, contact:

Joanne Johnson
Industry and Resources
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1691
Email: jjohnson@ir.gov.sk.ca

Media Relations
Industry Canada
Ottawa
Phone: 613-943-2502

Lyndon Stachoski
City of Estevan
Estevan
Phone: 306-634-1852
Email: administration@estevan.ca

Deirdra McCracken
Office of the Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of Industry
Phone: 613-995-9001