The following statement was issued today by Judy Foote, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Small Business Advisory Council holds first meeting

I rise in this Honourable House to advise members that the province�s Small Business Advisory Council held its first meeting in St. John�s on Friday.

One of the priorities for action outlined in government�s Renewal Strategy for Jobs and Growth released in March 2001was the commitment to establish a Small Business Advisory Council. Appointments to the council were made in October 2002 and the first time all council members were available to meet was last week.

The council is a "sounding board" for new small business development initiatives being contemplated by government and will advise me, in my capacity as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, on appropriate measures government should consider to help stimulate and grow the small business sector in our province.

The members of the council represent a broad range of small business enterprises from across the province and include the following representatives: Harvey Short, Paradise (chair); Darrell Bennett, Happy Valley-Goose Bay; Karen Matthews, Corner Brook; Des Dillon, Gander; Graham Wood, Grand Bank; Gordon Hopkins, Bay Roberts; Cathy Ivany, St. John�s; Nena Abundo, St. John�s; Marilyn Thompson, representing the Newfoundland and Labrador Chamber of Commerce; George Yates of Springdale, representing Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters; and Brad George, representing the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses.

At the first meeting, we discussed a wide range of important topics related to growing the small business sector in Newfoundland and Labrador including government programs and services available to small businesses, recent budget initiatives including the establishment of a Red Tape Reduction Committee, workers� compensation issues and access to capital for small businesses.

This initiative reflects government�s ongoing commitment to growing the province�s small business community and builds on the aggressive pro-business measures we have implemented over the past several years, including new measures announced in Budget 2003.

I thank the members of the Small Business Advisory Council for sharing their time and expertise with government to ensure the small business sector is provided every opportunity to be successful.

I was pleased to participate in this successful first meeting and I look forward to working closely with the council as we work together in the best interests of small business in Newfoundland and Labrador.

2003 04 07                                         2:05 p.m.