Montréal, Quebec, January 17, 2013-Today, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), met with entrepreneurs at Montréal's 6cent1 and Inno-centreto discuss how to continue to improve Canada's business environment. The Minister of State also outlined the Harper Government's recent efforts to help small and medium-sizedenterprises (SME) by cutting red tape, providing fast-growthSMEs with greater access to venture capital, opening new markets for Canadian businesses and keeping Canada's finances sustainable over the long term while keeping taxes low for businesses and Canadian families.

"Entrepreneurs are key to Canada's success," said Minister of State Bernier. "By listening to entrepreneurs, our government can work toward creating a business environment driven by entrepreneurs that encourages jobs, growth and long-termprosperity for Canadians."

To help cut red tape, the Harper Government launched a Red Tape Reduction Action Plan, a far reaching, whole-of-governmentinitiative that includes 90 department-specificreforms ranging from tax and payroll to labour, transport and cross-bordertrade. To improve access to capital, the Harper Government committed $400 million to increase private sector investments in early-stagerisk capital and to support large-scale, private sector-managed venture capital funds.

The Harper Government continues to assist SMEs by opening new markets. In less than six years, the Harper Government has concluded trade agreements with nine countries. Canada is also in negotiations with large, dynamic and fast-growingmarkets, including the European Union, India, Japan and the countries that comprise the Trans-PacificPartnership.

"Our government is also ensuring that Canada's finances are sustainable over the long term by committing to return to balanced budgets by the end of this Parliament and without raising taxes on individuals or businesses," said Minister of State Bernier. "As a share of GDP, government program spending is projected to steadily decline over the next few years and return to pre-recessionlevels."

In Canada, SMEs account for 99 percent of companies, employ 60 percent of working Canadians and contribute about 40 percent to the GDP, proving to be economic drivers and important sources of job creation.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Scott French
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Maxime Bernier
Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
613-943-6183

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502


distributed by