BizPaL Launched in Haldimand County, Ontario

CAYUGA, ONTARIO, Apr 07 (MARKET WIRE) --
Starting and running a business in Haldimand County just became easier
thanks to BizPaL, a new online business permit and licence service that
saves time spent on paperwork and helps entrepreneurs start up faster.

Today, Dean Allison, Member of Parliament for Niagara West-Glanbrook, on
behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, together
with Toby Barrett, Member of Provincial Parliament for Haldimand-Norfolk,
on behalf of the Honourable Ted McMeekin, Minister of Government Services
of Ontario, and Marie Trainer, Mayor of Haldimand County, welcomed the
launch of BizPaL at an event in Cayuga, Ontario.

BizPaL is an innovative service that provides entrepreneurs with
simplified access to the information on permits and licences 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 BizPaL service in Haldimand County was
developed by the County, the Province of Ontario and the Government of
Canada.

"BizPaL is part of our government's economic plan to support innovation
and cut red tape," said Mr. Allison. "We need to do all we can to help
Canadian small businesses drive our economy. This service makes it easier
for businesses to get the information they need to start up and grow.
It's an example of government making things easier for Canadians."

"Our priority is to build a strong economy and strong communities across
Ontario," said Minister McMeekin. "BizPaL gets our entrepreneurs up and
running quickly and easily. It gives them a valuable edge in these
challenging economic times."

"BizPaL is a tool that will help businesses develop in Haldimand County,"
said Mayor Trainer. "Through the use of BizPaL, Haldimand County will be
promoted across Canada. Anyone choosing to establish a business in the
County will find quick access to major markets in a wonderfully scenic
part of southern Ontario with an envied quality of life."

Area business owners and entrepreneurs can access the service by visiting
www.haldimandcounty.on.ca or www.serviceontario.ca/bizpal. The Province
is looking forward to expanding BizPaL to other areas of Ontario over the
next year.

Visit www.bizpal.ca for additional information and access to the websites
of participating partners.

BACKGROUNDER

BizPaL Simplifies Permits and Licences for Canadian Businesses

BizPaL is an online service that benefits Canadian businesses by helping
them identify which permits and licences they require and how to obtain
them. Entrepreneurs simply answer a series of questions on the type of
business they want to start or expand and the activities they plan to
undertake. BizPaL then automatically generates a list of all required
permits and licences from all levels of government, along with basic
information on each, and links to government sites where the entrepreneur
can learn more and, in some cases, apply online.

BizPaL also benefits governments by making it easier for them to provide
accurate information on permits and licences to business. Although the
service is offered online, it can also be used through other service
channels (i.e., telephone and in-person centres) to extend services to
more clients.

To date, 11 provinces and territories are participating in BizPaL, with
more than 270 municipalities offering the service. Visit www.bizpal.ca
for a complete list of participating jurisdictions.

Industry Canada is the lead federal department for the BizPaL initiative,
supporting the centralized functions of the project. The Government of
Canada is fully committed to creating a competitive business environment
that supports innovation and reduces red tape. BizPaL is a complementary
measure within the government's commitment to reduce the paperwork burden
on small businesses by 20 percent.

The success of BizPaL is due in part to the multi-jurisdictional
partnership among federal, provincial, territorial, regional and local
governments. The partnership operates under a shared governance and
costing model with collaborative decision making. Each jurisdiction is
responsible for adding and maintaining its own information in BizPaL.
ServiceOntario, part of Ontario's Ministry of Government Services, is
entrusted with engaging local governments to make this important service
available across Ontario.

This interactive, smart permit and licence tool is featured at
www.haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Contacts:
Office of the Honourable Diane Ablonczy
Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Catherine Godbout
613-947-5856

Industry Canada
Media Relations
613-943-2502

Province of Ontario
Ciaran Ganley, Manager
Issues Management and Media Relations
416-325-8659
647-218-8659 (cell)

Haldimand County
Cayuga, Ontario
Planning and Economic Development Department
James Goodram, Manager, Economic Development
and Tourism Division
905-318-5932, ext. 242

Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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