Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister for ITI alluded to earlier this is Small Business Week and I commend him for his statement earlier. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak about support for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are people inspired by an idea, investing in possibility; people with a passion for their new concept who are creative, want to share ideas and have a willingness to take risks; people who believe in something new and groundbreaking; something that, while successful for them, can also make our community better and stronger. So this week, Small Business Week, is the time to look at how we support entrepreneurs. If I have an idea for a new business, where do I go to get help? Who can offer me experienced advice? Where can I get some start-up money? If I'm new to business, how do I know I won't get totally drowned and blocked by rules and redundancy at every step?
Thankfully, Mr. Speaker, there are some good options out there for people with new ideas, and the Minister alluded to some of them earlier. The NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation is a Crown corporation that exists directly for the purpose of developing new business in the NWT. Similarly, the Akaitcho Business Development Corporation works to build partnerships and business skills development as well as access to business capital. Futurpreneur Canada is another business support initiative through which I have the privilege of being a business mentor to a young entrepreneur currently.
Futurpreneur is an excellent program which includes connecting an experienced business owner with young entrepreneurs, conducts business boot camps, assists with business planning and provides other support mechanisms for new start-ups. The Bizpal System started by the GNWT and just launched by the City of Yellowknife and now available in 16 NWT communities will support fledgling businesses by reducing the time and effort it takes for permitting and licensing.
Mr. Speaker, these are just some of what we can do to support the emergence of small business community with. Offering business counselling, easing of red tape and providing start-up funding are all ways to support entrepreneurs, to encourage innovation and to build wealth and capacity in our communities and across the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you colleagues. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I believe that private enterprise entrepreneurship and diversification are the keys to our territory's economic success. I strongly encourage our government to foster an environment which facilitates economic investment, reduces red tape and encourages creativity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
