Released on September 13, 2007
Starting and running a business in Meadow Lake just became easier thanks to BizPaL, a new online business permit and licence service that reduces the time entrepreneurs spend on paperwork.
Leon Benoit, MP for Vegreville--Wainwright (Alberta) on behalf of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, Saskatchewan Industry and Resources Minister Maynard Sonntag and Meadow Lake Mayor Darwin Obrigewitsch today welcomed the launch of BizPaL in the Town of Meadow Lake.
BizPaL is an innovative service that provides entrepreneurs with simplified access to the information on permits and licencing 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 encounter.
"Canada's New Government is pleased to be working with the Province of Saskatchewan and the Town of Meadow Lake to provide easy access to essential information and reduce paperwork costs for area businesses," said Mr. Benoit. "This new service contributes to a more competitive and productive local economy."
"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, entrepreneurs can spend less time looking for information on the permits and licenses they require, and more time building their business."
"The Town of Meadow Lake is always looking for new ways to improve the local business environment and the BizPaL service is a great example of an innovative way for us to support new business opportunities," Obrigewitsch said. "We are experiencing strong growth in the Meadow Lake area and BizPaL is another tool local entrepreneurs can access to make it easier to get their business up and running quickly and efficiently."
The BizPaL service in the Town of Meadow Lake was developed through the collaboration of Industry Canada, the Government of Saskatchewan and the Town of Meadow Lake.
"BizPaL is simply a great online resource for new and existing entrepreneurs exploring the many opportunities in our region," Northwest REDA Economic Development Officer Barry Lewis said. "Small- and medium-size businesses in our region will now have more time to spend on their business as process for permits and licenses has been simplified."
"Streamlining permits and licences for entrepreneurs will reduce the complexity of the approval process and save entrepreneur's 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.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Joanne Johnson
Industry and Resources
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1691
Email: jjohnson@ir.gov.sk.ca
Darwin Obrigewitsch
Mayor, Town of Meadow Lake
Meadow Lake
Phone: 306-236-3622
Media Relations
Industry Canada
Ottawa
Phone: 613-943-2502
Deirdra McCracken
Office of the Honourable Jim Prentice
Ottawa
Phone: 613-995-9001