Mr. Speaker, Small Business Week 2005 is a national initiative but nowhere is it more important than in western Canada.
The spirit of entrepreneurship is strong in the west. Small businesses provide an essential source of jobs and opportunity in local communities, both large and small.
The west has enjoyed a strong economic performance in recent years and small businesses are a major contributor to that success. There are 50% more small businesses per capita in the west and they account for 80% of all new jobs.
More important, it is time to recognize the contributions of the small business sector which is the driving force of the western economy.
This Saturday, an award ceremony will be held to recognize small businesses in francophone communities outside Quebec for their remarkable contribution to the economic development of our country. We wish all the nominees the best of luck.
I ask my colleagues to join us in celebrating the talents, determination and ingenuity of western Canada's entrepreneurs, men, women, francophone and aboriginal people, during Small Business Week.