BIZPAL LAUNCHED IN NORTH BATTLEFORD

Starting and running a business in the City of North Battleford just became easier thanks to BizPaL, a new online business permit and licence service that saves time on paperwork and helps entrepreneurs start up faster.

Today, Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, on behalf of Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, together with Saskatchewan Enterprise and Innovation Minister Lyle Stewart and North Battleford Mayor Julian Sadlowski welcomed the launch of BizPaL in the City of North Battleford.

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

"The Government of Canada is working hard with provincial, municipal and territorial governments to provide the best possible service for small businesses," said Ritz. "BizPaL is part of our government's economic plan laid out in Advantage Canada to provide an innovative and entrepreneurial business environment."

"Saskatchewan is enjoying an economic boom that is attracting entrepreneurs who need to spend less time on permits and licenses and have more time to do business," Stewart said. "BizPaL, which is part of our regulatory and service enhancement initiative, will now make it easier to start and run a business here in North Battleford and in more than 30 other communities in our province."

"We are committed to our business community, and this exciting new service will make it easier for entrepreneurs to establish in North Battleford," Sadlowski said. "BizPaL is an example of how the city will continue to provide innovative and streamlined services for business."

"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."

The BizPaL service in North Battleford was developed with the support of Industry Canada, in collaboration with the City of North Battleford and the Province of Saskatchewan.

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

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

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For more information, contact:

Joanne Johnson
Enterprise and Innovation
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7967
Email: jjohnson@ir.gov.sk.ca

Catherine Godbout
Office of the Honourable Diane Ablonczy
Ottawa
Phone: 613-947-5856

Denis Lavertu
Director of Business Development
North Battleford
Phone: 306-445-1718
Email: dlavertu@cityofnb.ca

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