Resources

Government

• Sources of Financing - can help you locate traditional or alternative sources of financing for your small business.
• BC Stats - Business and Economic Statistics for small business.
• Business Development Bank of Canada - provides small and medium-sized businesses with flexible financing, affordable consulting services and venture capital.
• Businesswomen in Trade Website - special information and assistance needs of women entrepreneurs who lead small- and medium-sized enterprises.
• BusinessGateway.ca - provides a single access point to all the government services and information needed to start, run and grow a business.
• Canadian Bankers Association - provides information, statistics and publications to help individual and small business consumers manage their financial affairs.
• Canadian Commercial Corporation - As Canada's export contracting agency, the Canadian Commercial Corporation brings buyers and Canadian exporters together through contracts built on the best possible terms and conditions.
• Canadian Consumer Information Gateway - information and services offered by Canada's governments and NGOs. Allows Canadians to quickly and confidently search for consumer information and services on the Web such as lists of product and food recalls, alerts on the latest consumer scams and frauds, interactive financial calculators that can help you decide which bank or credit card is right for you or whether you should buy or lease your next vehicle. Additionally, it offers valuable tips on how to protect yourself in various consumer situations such as shopping on-line, investing, dealing with tele-marketers or door-to-door sales people, renovation contractors, car repairs and much more.
• Canadian Company Capabilities - searchable database of 50,000 Canadian businesses, including hundreds of specialized manufacturing, service and product-specific business directories.
• Canadian Intellectual Property Office - The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) administers the intellectual property (IP) system in Canada and their website has a wealth of IP information.
• Canadian International Development Agency - supports sustainable development in developing countries in order to reduce poverty and to contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world.
• Competition Bureau -administers and enforces the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act. Its role is to promote and maintain fair competition so that Canadians can benefit from lower prices, product choice and quality services.
• Corporations Directorate - website for corporations on incorporating and other related topics.
• Export Development Canada - provides anadian exporters with financing, insurance and bonding services, as well as foreign market expertise.
• Foreign Affairs Canada - supports Canadians abroad, works towards a more peaceful and secure world, and promotes our culture and values internationally.
• Government Electronic Tendering Service - MERX - New opportunities are listed daily from the federal, provincial governments and MASH (municipal, academic, school and hospital) sectors from across Canada.
• Government of Canada Online - Source of federal, provincial and territorial information and services such as business start-up, taxes, financing and more.
• Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC for BC) - supports human capital development and labour market development. Info on employment insurance, labour programs and the Canada student loans program.
• Indian & Northern Affairs Canada - supports First Nations and Inuit in developing healthy, sustainable communities and in achieving their economic and social aspirations.
• Industry Canada (Strategis) - tons of business info - business management tools, business on the Internet and Government services on the Internet.
• Industry Canada Trade Data Online -provides the ability to generate customized reports on Canada's and U.S. trade with over 200 countries.
• Marketplace Rules: The Competition Act - administers and enforces the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act. It promotes and maintains fair competition so that Canadians can benefit from lower prices, product choice and quality services.
• Merx - MERX is an easy, fast and efficient prospecting tool to help your business grow. New opportunities are listed daily from all levels of the Canadian government.
• Performance Plus - interactive on-line financial performance tool to help new and established firms determine how your business measures up to the competition.
• Popular resources for small business - at the small business centre. Click on the 'talk to us' link in the bottom left hand corner to speak to an officer.
• Public Works and Government Services Canada - find out how you can participate in the contract tendering process and learn the nuts and bolts of selling to the Government of Canada.
• Social Development Canada (Human Resources Development Canada - Federal) -provides the policies, services and programs for Canadians who need assistance in overcoming challenges they encounter in their lives and their communities, such as the Canada Pension Plan.
• Standards Council of Canada - works in Canada and around the world to develop standards that address real needs, such as enhancing public safety and health, advancing the quality of life, helping to preserve the environment and facilitating trade.
• Statistics Canada - resource of Canadian statistics.
• Strategis - Canada's big daddy of business sites.