Congratulations to all the nominees at the Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce and Business Excellence Awards.
We are blessed to have numerous small businesses here in Williams Lake that offer a variety of products and services.
Small businesses have a big impact not only on our local economy, but also on our provincial economy. Buying from local businesses creates jobs. More than one million British Columbians have jobs thanks to small businesses.
Buying from local businesses keeps money circulating in our local economy and supports our families here at home.
Buying from local businesses supports a diversified economy. Small businesses contribute to various sectors of our provincial economy, including the tourism, technology and natural resource sectors.
Our provincial government wants entrepreneurs to be able to focus on what matters — creating jobs and spurring innovation. That’s why we’ve established initiatives like the Small Business Accord and the Small Business Roundtable and BizPaL. We continue to work to streamline and simplify government processes to reduce red tape. British Columbians gave us their ideas to reduce red tape. Now, we are releasing our plan to take more than 60 actions to reduce red tape and improve service delivery. Over the next year, people will see improvements to several government services — small changes that make doing business and accessing programs and information easier.
In addition, in my role as Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, I led a cross-government effort to repeal 37 outdated or unnecessary regulations to make it easier for people to comply with provincial requirements.
Supporting small business starts with all of us here in Williams Lake. Whether we’re grocery shopping, looking for some tools or supplies, or want to catch up with a friend over a cup of coffee, by choosing to buy local, we can all support and sustain our local economy.
Coralee Oakes is the MLA for Cariboo North and Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction.
