Business Owners Get Helping Hand Online
Starting and operating a business in Halifax Regional Municipality and New Glasgow just got easier thanks to a new online tool designed to help sort through government permits and licences.
BizPaL is a free, web-based service that helps guide business owners through the regulation process at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.
"Implementing BizPaL is another example of the province's commitment to enhance our business environment," said Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "BizPaL will enable business operators to deal with the licence and permit requirements of all levels of government through one, online source. It will save them time, and resources."
The service is simple to use and offers information that is easy to understand.
HRM and New Glasgow are the first Atlantic Canadian municipalities to implement BizPaL.
"People in business, or those wanting to start a business, want information quickly and conveniently," said Peter Kelly, Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality. "BizPaL will provide one-stop shopping for entrepreneurs to gather information about government licences and permits they may require to operate their business."
"The Town of New Glasgow is pleased to be selected as one of the first two Atlantic Canadian communities to launch this innovative service," said New Glasgow Mayor Ann MacLean. "As the commercial service centre for north-eastern Nova Scotia, our strategic goal is to make New Glasgow a community that provides a progressive business climate. BizPaL is another initiative that enables our municipality to make significant strides in this area."
The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, which represents 5,200 members in Nova Scotia, is a proponent of BizPaL and pleased to see it being implemented in Atlantic Canada.
"Opening and running a business is a tough job," said Leanne Hachey, Atlantic vice-president of the federation. "But BizPal will make this job a bit easier, saving entrepreneurs valuable time and money."
This project is part of the ongoing government Better Regulation Initiative aimed at making it easier for businesses to do business in Nova Scotia.
For more information visit the website at www.bizpal.ca .