August 30, 2013 - 10:38 AM
VICTORIA - The Province has taken another step to cut red tape with today's appointment of a senior official to work with small businesses to break down barriers and increase small business procurement by at least 20 per cent.
Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business Naomi Yamamoto has appointed George Farkas as executive lead of the Small Business - Doing Business with Government Project. Farkas will consult directly with business owners and operators and develop recommendations to make it easier for small businesses to compete for and win government contracts.
Cutting red tape and simplifying procurement procedures are key objectives for Yamamoto under her mandate letter from Premier Clark. Broader goals include ensuring small businesses can grow, and making B.C. the most business-friendly jurisdiction in Canada.
Small business plays a vital role in the B.C. economy and employs more than one million people. British Columbia is the only province in Canada to enact regulatory reform legislation and regulations to reduce barriers to business. Since 2011, B.C. has reduced regulatory requirements by more than 42 per cent. The Province is committed to a policy of a net-zero increase in regulations until at least 2015.
Farkas is currently assistant deputy minister in the Management Services Division. He has more than 15 years of financial and business experience in both the provincial and federal public service, as well as experience with his family's own small business in B.C.
The project will begin immediately, with a final report to be delivered to government within six months.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013