October is officially Small Business Month in British Columbia. Last year alone, small business made up one third of B.C.’s GDP, the highest in all provinces. Small business provides a good job market, particularly in smaller communities.

We know how valuable smaller businesses are for the spirit and character of our region and we show our dedication and thanks by supporting them. Let us remind ourselves that this month is dedicated to small business by shopping locally and supporting our communities.

We are fortunate to live in smaller communities where we can actually see the important work that small businesses provide.

Some of the strongest small business sectors are located in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. The construction industry, as well as the mining, oil and gas industry, are among top employers, providing more than 32,000 jobs and raising employment by more than 70 per cent over the past five years.

Small business does well in our province. The B.C. government recognizes this and has made it easier for businesses and entrepreneurs to succeed.

The province is working to eliminate the small business corporate income tax by 2012 and currently B.C. has the lowest small business tax rate in the country. With resources like BizPal and the OneStop Business registry, our government is cutting unnecessary regulations, making it much easier for new businesses to start-up.

I would like to recognize all the small businesses in our region, we know how hard you work and I’m proud to support local industry. Buying local not only makes our industries sustainable, it also keeps our hard-earned money within our communities, providing encouragement for our local business owners. Small business owners are innovative, tailoring their goods and services to meet the needs of the Cariboo-Chilcotin.

Let us thank our local small business owners and maintain our support for them by purchasing locally made goods and services.