Small business driving our economy: MPP Ted Arnott
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington – Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2010
Small business driving our economy: MPP Ted Arnott
(Queen’s Park) – Coming out of an economic downturn, up to 80 percent of new jobs created are in
small business—that most innovative, dynamic and spirited sector of our economy.
Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott noted this fact on June 16, when he spoke to members and
friends of the Guelph-Wellington Business Enterprise Centre at the organization’s annual board
meeting.
“Governments at every level need to understand this,” said Mr. Arnott, pointing out that every big
business started small. “We must always remember the single proprietor and the smallest of family
businesses, where many owners don’t pay themselves minimum wage, when they factor in the
hours they put in, and the little they take out,” he added.
The Business Enterprise Centre provides prospective and existing enterprises, entrepreneurs and
self-employed individuals with a one-stop source of business information and support services.
Training, consultation, mentorship, networking and youth programs are just a few of the services
offered.
Local demand for such services is at an all-time high, according to Business Enterprise Centre Chair
Jim Mahone.
“The global financial crisis has impacted our community generating an unprecedented demand for
our services,” wrote Mr. Mahone in a message for the annual meeting. Executive Director Judi
Riddolls reiterated the point.
“The economic downturn, high unemployment rate and plant closings have impacted our total
community,” wrote Ms. Riddolls.
Riddolls, Mahone and Arnott all congratulated the staff for their hard work and dedication, which has
been particularly important in this year of economic challenge.
“Our small business sector provides the jobs that sustain our families and strengthen our
communities, lending dignity for today and hope for a better future for all of us,” concluded Mr.
Arnott.
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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Web www.tedarnottmpp.com
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Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott spoke to the Guelph-Wellington Business Enterprise Centre
at its annual meeting, held June 16, 2010. His remarks were as follows:
It’s a real pleasure to join you today to thank you for the work you do, and celebrate your success.
I do so along with my colleague in the Ontario Legislature, and neighbour, Liz Sandals. And Liz,
since you didn’t bring up that dreaded word, HST, I won’t either!
Although Liz and I do sit opposite to each other in the Legislature, we have, and we do, work
together on matters of local importance, in the best interest of both of our ridings, just as you would
expect us to do.
And I’m glad Mayor Rod Finnie of the County of Wellington and the Town of Erin is here as well. He
does a great job, and it’s great that he’s involved in your organization.
It’s been my privilege to serve at Queen’s Park for a long time. Over those years, I’ve heard many
statements which have proven to be true, and others best characterized by a word the Speaker
always describes as “unparliamentary”—but it begins with an “L.”
I’ve heard many numbers used to illustrate a point. But one that I believe to be true has never left
my mind—nor should it yours.
Coming out of a downturn, up to 80 percent of the new jobs created are in small business—that
most innovative, dynamic and spirited sector of our economy.
Governments at every level need to understand this, as well as the fact that every big business
started small, most with only the ambition and vision of a single entrepreneur who often risks every
cent he or she has and can borrow to get started.
We should not need to remind government that the economy can’t be taken for granted, that
economic growth is not a given, and that it is only through a strong and growing economy can
sustained investments be made in the services we all value, like health, our publicly-funded schools,
safe communities, a cleaner natural environment, and so on.
And we must always remember the single proprietor and the smallest of family businesses, where
many owners don’t pay themselves “minimum wage,” when they factor in the hours they put in, and
the little they take out.
But they play by the rules and pay their taxes, even as they try to compete with the underground
economy.
And these small businesses face government regulation and red tape, knowing that every hour they
spend dealing with government is an hour they can’t spend looking after their customers or finding
new ones.
That’s what makes your work here at the Enterprise Center so important, as you mentor and support
the growth of the real economy—our small business sector, which provides the jobs that sustain our
families and strengthen our communities, lending dignity for today and hope for a better future for all
of us,
That’s why we’re here today—to acknowledge your role and the work you do, and thank you, on
behalf of the Province of Ontario.