For immediate release
RICHMOND HILL, April 24, 2006 – The Honourable Michael M Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), today announced that the Government of Canada intends to create more opportunities for Canada’s multicultural business community.
“Our country’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) landscape is diverse, both with respect to the services companies provide and in terms of ownership,” said PWGSC Minister Michael M Fortier. “Through the Federal Accountability Act, the Canadian government will provide much-needed support for multicultural companies.”
The Minister’s announcement comes as the government unveils new measures to support SMEs. Last week, the Minister announced the expansion of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises, which will enable more small and medium suppliers, including multicultural ones, to participate in federal government procurement opportunities.
Expanding OSME will help fulfill the government’s commitment to reform procurement. Other measures to strengthen the integrity of government include:
a legislated commitment to fairness, openness, and transparency in the procurement process;
require contracts to include integrity provisions that require action be taken to preclude corruption, collusion, and the payment of contingency fees in the procurement process;
promote fairness, openness and transparency in the bidding process through a new Policy on Managing Procurement, which will be independently reviewed before it is finalized;
a proposed Procurement Auditor to review procurement practices on an ongoing basis;
introduction of a Code of Conduct for Procurement; and
provide accreditation and training for procurement officers.
Minister Fortier was in Richmond Hill to meet with the members of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) to inform them of these measures, and to specifically pledge the government’s support for multicultural SMEs.
“Language and ethnicity, like size and location, should never exclude a business from competing for government contracts. SMEs are far too critical to the country’s economy for us to leave the multicultural ones behind because something got lost in the translation,” said Minister Fortier.
The Richmond Hill business community was pleased with the Minister’s announcement. “I find the intent very sincere and encouraging for small and medium companies,” said Daisy Wai, chair of the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce and President of Ad2000 and Beyond Advertising Inc. “The government is acting quickly on its promises and this is good news. We’re looking forward to working with the Canadian government.”
Catherine Swift, President of the CFIB, also welcomed the initiative. “Doing business with government has always been a big challenge for small firms. Minister Fortier’s announcement today is a very positive step toward improving access to government opportunities for all small and medium companies.”
For more information, contact the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises at 1-800-811-1148, by e-mail at osme@pwgsc.gc.ca, or visit www.pwgsc.gc.ca/sme.
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Ce texte est également disponible en français.
For further information, please contact:
Nicole Babin
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Fortier
(819) 997-5421
Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
(819) 956-2315
PWGSC news releases are also available on our Internet site at www.pwgsc.gc.ca/text/generic/media-e.html