Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on Small Business Week, which runs from October 14-20, 2012:

“Every year, during Small Business Week, we celebrate and honour small business owners and entrepreneurs, whose hard work and dedication create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity, keeping Canada’s economy strong.

“Accounting for 98 percent of all businesses in our country, small businesses truly are the backbone of the Canadian economy, and our Government is committed to ensuring that small business owners have the opportunities and tools they need to invest, innovate and grow in today’s ever-changing global environment.

“This is why our Government is reducing taxes, regulations and red tape that inhibit growth, putting in place digital and transportation networks to increase exports of goods and services, and enhancing access to international markets through new free trade agreements.

“These measures, along with Canada’s Economic Action Plan, are generating results: Canada has the lowest overall tax rate on new business investment in the G-7, and the International Monetary Fund and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have predicted that we will have among the strongest economic growth in the G-7 in 2012 and 2013.

“This Saturday, hundreds of small businesses across the country will offer special deals to their customers for the first edition of ‘Small Business Saturday’.. It is a perfect occasion for Canadians all over the country to support their local businesses. I invite all Canadians to join me in thanking our nation’s entrepreneurs for the enormous contributions they make to Canada’s continued success.”