What´s happening in the Richmond Hill small business community?

The News & Events section is intended to supply you with relevant and timely information on a wide range of topics, including:

• Upcoming trade shows, conferences, and special events;
• Networking opportunities;
• Reports on small business;
• Media releases on government programs/services.

Check this section regularly for updated news items and event listings.

Events

News

Governments of Canada and Ontario Support Small Businesses

Launch Single Toll–Free Number, Making It Easier For Businesses To Get Government Information

News

February 3, 2010 — To make it easier for business owners to get the information they need, the governments of Canada and Ontario have collaborated to create a telephone number with business information from both levels of government.

Callers can dial 1-888-745-8888 or TTY 1-800-268-7095 to get information on several topics including financing options, starting or growing a business, federal and provincial government programs, managing employees, regulations, taxes, permits and licences, importing and exporting requirements, and more.

The Honourable Rob Moore, federal Minister of State, Small Business and Tourism was joined by the Honourable Harinder S. Takhar, Ontario Minister of Government Services today, to officially launch the new toll-free Business Info Line.

The announcement was made at the Economic Developers Council of Ontario’s 53^rd annual conference and showcase.

This new toll-free telephone service is part of an ongoing partnership between Industry Canada and ServiceOntario to provide integrated services to businesses, through the Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre, and other services.

Quotes

“Small and medium sized enterprises are the engine of the Canadian economy. Their success fuels economic growth and job creation. This new toll-free number makes it easier for businesses to find the assistance they need to make Canada more competitive, by reducing the burden on hard working Canadian entrepreneurs.”
- Rob Moore, Minister of State, Small Business and Tourism

“Ontario is making it easier for businesses to work with government, grow and succeed. Creating an environment that will help attract investment is a key component of the government's plan to create jobs and grow the economy."
- Harinder S. Takhar, Minister of Government Services

Quick Facts

• The Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre assists more than 1.6 million web users each year
• Each day, 50,000 users visit ServiceOntario.ca
• As of June 2009, there were 857,077 businesses in Ontario, or 37.4 per cent of all businesses in Canada

Learn More

Sarbjit Kaur, Minister’s Office, 416-327-0125
Ciaran Ganley, Communications Branch, 416-325-8659
Industry Canada Media Relations, 613-943-2502

CIBC World Markets - Small Business Report
October 2009
 

Industry Canada - Small Business Quarterly - Volume 11 No.4
February 2010

For more information, please visit the Industry Canada Website.