Press Release
To make it easier for business owners to get the information they need, the governments of Canada and Ontario have collaborated to create a telephone number with business information from both levels of government.
Callers can dial 1-888-745-8888, or TTY 1-800-268-7095, to get information on several topics, including financing options, starting or growing a business, federal and provincial government programs, managing employees, regulations, taxes, permits, and licences, importing and exporting requirements, and more.
Rob Moore, federal minister of state for small business and tourism, was joined by provincial Government Services minister Harinder S. Takhar last week to officially launch the new toll-free Business Info Line.
The announcement was made at the Economic Developers Council of Ontario’s 53rd-annual conference and showcase.
This new toll-free telephone service is part of an ongoing partnership between Industry Canada and ServiceOntario to provide integrated services to businesses, through the Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre, and other services.
“Small- and medium-sized enterprises are the engine of the Canadian economy,” said Moore. “Their success fuels economic growth and job creation.
“This new toll-free number makes it easier for businesses to find the assistance they need to make Canada more competitive, by reducing the burden on hard-working Canadian entrepreneurs,” he added.
“Ontario is making it easier for businesses to work with government, grow, and succeed,” echoed Takhar.
“Creating an environment that will help attract investment is a key component of the government’s plan to create jobs and grow the economy,” he noted.
The Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre assists more than 1.6 million web users each year.
Each day, 50,000 users visit ServiceOntario.ca
As of June, 2009, there were 857,077 businesses in Ontario, or 37.4 percent of all businesses in Canada.
