Minster of State for Small Business Naomi Yamamoto says her goal is for B.C. to be the most small business-friendly province in Canada.
"I think that when small businesses do well, so does the province," she told the audience at a Delta Chamber of Commerce luncheon Friday (Oct. 19) at the Delta Town & Country Inn.
Yamamoto, the MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale and former minister of advanced education, was appointed to the small business portfolio last month.
She said government needs to work with business owners and municipalities to create an environment that could fulfill her "most small business-friendly province" goal.
"I need you to tell me some of those things that we can do to make it easier for your businesses to thrive," she said.
During a question and answer session it was mentioned that if Yamamoto was heading home through the George Massey Tunnel during rush hour, she'd know one of the ways to help small business in Delta.
Premier Christy Clark recently said the province would look at plans to replace the tunnel.
"I think that's huge for businesses and getting our goods to market," Yamamoto said, adding she hopes consultations with the business and local com-munity would be taking place in a timely manner.
During her speech, Yamamoto said she's heard from some small business owners that business property taxes are an increasing burden.
She noted businesses are mobile.
"We don't want to see them leaving because they can't afford their property taxes."
She said 98 per cent of businesses in B.C. fall under the government's definition of a small business (having 50 or fewer employees).
Yamamoto added the overwhelming majority of those businesses have five employees or less.
Provincially, small businesses provide over 50 per cent of private sector jobs, employ over a million people and generate one-third of B.C.'s GDP, Yamamoto noted.
