Canada's Economic Action Plan to Help Small Businesses and Students

CALGARY, ALBERTA, Apr 07 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Small Business and
Tourism), today announced the launch of a new program to help small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) grow in the knowledge economy and to help
students get jobs in the field of information and communications
technologies (ICT).

Industry Canada's Small Business Internship Program (SBIP) will help
Canadian small businesses hire a total of 400 student interns annually to
help with ICT projects, improving their productivity and competitiveness.

"SBIP will help small businesses grow through the power of ICT and
e-commerce," said Minister of State Ablonczy. "Just as importantly, this
program will help post-secondary students across Canada gain valuable
work experience, while earning money for their education."

SBIP will allow Canadian small businesses to submit an application to
participating delivery agencies in their area. Successful applicants will
have the opportunity to directly hire a qualified student intern for a
12-week period to help them with e-commerce ICT projects. SBIP will
reimburse up to 75 percent of each participating SME's eligible salary
and benefit costs.

"SBIP is an important part of Canada's Economic Action Plan," added
Minister of State Ablonczy. "It is vital during the current economic
instability that we do whatever we can to help small businesses, which
account for so many Canadian jobs. As well, we need to ensure that
Canada's youth have the skills and experience to take advantage of the
opportunities that will arise as the economy improves. SBIP will meet
both of these needs."

Industry Canada will send out a request for applications from
organizations that want to participate as delivery agencies for SBIP.
These delivery agencies will be responsible for selecting SMEs to
participate in SBIP. This is being done in anticipation of the first
interns being placed with small businesses this summer.

SBIP is a collaborative effort of Canadian small businesses,
post-secondary institutions and non-government organizations that offers
promising post-secondary students hands-on experience working on
e-commerce projects under the mentorship and coaching of entrepreneurs.

SBIP will receive $17.5 million in funding through 2014 as part of the
Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy.

BACKGROUNDER

Small Business Internship Program

The Small Business Internship Program (SBIP) helps small and medium-sized
businesses (SMEs) go beyond simply having email or an Internet site by
enabling them to adopt an active e-business strategy that will help them
prosper during the current economic instability.

SBIP provides financial support to qualified SMEs so they can hire
student interns to assist them adopt information and communications
technologies (ICT). This support will help participating SMEs increase
their productivity and competitiveness in order to grow their businesses.
Participating SMEs will receive a reimbursement of up to 75 percent of
their wage and benefit expenses for hiring a qualified student intern
under SBIP to help them with an e-business or ICT project.

SBIP also offers promising post-secondary students valuable, hands-on job
experience working on e-business and ICT projects under the guidance of
entrepreneurs. Student interns will gain an appreciation of
entrepreneurship and the opportunity to explore career possibilities
while making money to continue their education.

Canada's Economic Action Plan introduced numerous measures to assist
small businesses in the short term, while positioning them for long-term
growth. The Plan also contained measures to create opportunities and
better jobs across Canada through skills development. As well, the Plan
contained measures to address short-term economic challenges facing
sectors, regions and communities as a result of the global economic
instability. It will help sectors position themselves for long-term
competitiveness. Commitments to improve the broadband infrastructure in
rural communities mean that more rural businesses will have greater
opportunity to use information technologies and e-commerce to help to
grow their businesses.

SBIP is a component of the federal Youth Employment Strategy (YES) and
will be well positioned to support these initiatives. SBIP will
contribute to YES by helping young Canadians get on-the-job experience
while they earn money to continue their post-secondary education. SBIP
supports Industry Canada's mandate by helping Canadian SMEs become more
competitive in the knowledge-based economy.

SBIP receives $3.5 million in annual funding through YES. Funding is
confirmed until March 31, 2014. Approximately 400 students will benefit
annually from 420 hours of full-time employment. Approximately 400 SMEs
each year will benefit from improved ICT capacity.

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

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