Governments of Canada Announce a New Service for Restaurateurs Through BizPaL

The Restaurant Bundle Check List will provide new restaurateurs with a simple way to get what they need to start their business. The free online business permit and licence service will save time, reduce administrative burden and help entrepreneurs.

ST. JOHN'S -- Starting and running a restaurant just became easier for entrepreneurs in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

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The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism, and the Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Service NL, recently announced an innovative service tool, available through BizPaL that is designed to simplify starting a restaurant.

"Small businesses are key drivers of economic growth and are crucial to Canada's long-term prosperity. BizPaL saves time and reduces the administrative burden for entrepreneurs, and I am confident that St. John's, along with its restaurateurs, will benefit from this new enhanced service. Our government will continue to work hard with all levels of government to support businesses across Canada as they innovate, create jobs and generate wealth in our communities," said Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism.

The Restaurant Bundle Check List will provide new restaurateurs with a simple way to get what they need to start their business. Users will be able view a list of required inspections, permits and licences necessary at different stages of the process, as well as potential wait times and costs. This streamlined service will cut down the time restaurateurs spend searching for essential information and help them meet regulatory requirements for starting their new business.

"This is a significant step forward for restaurateurs who have been looking forward to this for some time. The restaurant bundling process makes it easy for businesses to get the information they need without having to cut through a lot of red tape, freeing up valuable time for growing a small business. They can now easily identify which permits and licences they need from all levels of government through one online source," said Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Service NL.

BizPaL is a unique collaboration across all levels of government that helps entrepreneurs find out which permits and licences they require to start and grow their businesses. All provinces and territories participate in BizPaL, with more than 1,000 municipalities and one First Nation offering the service, making it available to over 70 percent of the Canadian population. The Restaurant Bundle Check List is a project being led by the National BizPaL Office. Newfoundland and Labrador is the third province to come on board.

"St. John's is quickly becoming one of the top culinary destinations in Canada, thanks to creative entrepreneurs. The new BizPaL restaurant checklist will help take the guesswork out of determining the costs, permits and licences associated with getting a new establishment up and running. Prospective restaurateurs will be better able to focus on the many other aspects of opening their business, which will help set them up for success," said Danny Breen, Mayor, City of St. John's.

BizPaL is an online service that benefits Canadian businesses by helping them identify which permits and licences they require and how to obtain them. Entrepreneurs simply select the business activities they plan to undertake, and BizPaL automatically generates a list of required permits and licences from all levels of government, along with basic information on each. The list also includes links to the various government websites where entrepreneurs can learn more and, in some cases, apply online.

BizPaL also benefits governments by making it easier for them to provide businesses with accurate information on permits and licences. All provinces and territories are participating in BizPaL, with over 1,000 municipalities and one First Nation offering the service, making it available to over 70 percent of the Canadian population. Visit the BizPaL website (www.bizpal.ca) for a complete list of participating jurisdictions.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is the lead federal department for BizPaL, supporting the centralized functions of the service. BizPaL demonstrates how the Government of Canada is committed to engaging provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to align as much as possible with complementary programs to support small and medium-sized businesses. The Government of Canada is committed to creating a competitive business environment that supports innovation and reduces red tape. BizPaL has contributed to the government's success in reducing the paperwork burden on small businesses.

The success of BizPaL is due in part to the multi-jurisdictional partnership among federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments. The partnership operates under a shared governance and costing model with collaborative decision making. Each jurisdiction is responsible for adding and maintaining its own information in BizPaL.

This interactive, smart permit and licence search tool is featured on the BizPaL website (www.bizpal.ca), along with additional information.

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada