News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – New Brunswickers are encouraged to support their local small businesses on Oct. 25 which is designated as Small Business Saturday.

“Small businesses are the economic drivers of our province,” said Finance Minister Roger Melanson. “They are the job creators and we are going to work with them to help move New Brunswick forward.”

This is the third year for the event sponsored by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. It is designed to draw attention and support to small businesses that are integral to communities across the country.

A Statistics Canada report indicates that more than 90 per cent of New Brunswickers in the private sector are employed by small and medium-sized businesses.

“We know the importance of small businesses and that is why we lowered the small business income tax rate to four per cent from 4.5 per cent effective Jan. 1, 2015,” Melanson said. “Our government is committed to creating the conditions that will help small businesses grow, thrive and create jobs.”

The website www.shopsmallbiz.ca can help consumers locate small businesses in their area by entering the first three digits of their postal code.  

“In every New Brunswick community, you will find local entrepreneurs working tirelessly to provide consumers with the best products and services possible,” said the director of provincial affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Denis Robichaud. “In spite of their size, small and medium-sized businesses employ half of all working New Brunswickers. Small Business Saturday is a great opportunity to show our support to those entrepreneurs who truly represent the backbone of our economy.”