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We’ve got a great lineup for this year’s The Globe and Mail Small Business Summit. If you’re an entrepreneur in Ontario looking to grow your business, you’ll want to be at there. This year’s speakers include former Dragon’s Den star David Chilton, Kate Ross Leblanc from Saje Natural Wellness and celebrity chef Mark McEwan. It’s a day of seminars and talks that will give you inspiration and practical ideas to grow your business. Click here for more info. - Sarah Efron, Globe and Mail Small Business Editor
Federal budget 2019: Top takeaways for private companies
Skills and training are a notable budget theme for 2019, with some potentially significant benefits to Canadian businesses, in particular startups and companies in the process of scaling up. Here are some of the key takeaways. Story
With my business on the brink, I was about to get a lesson on the dark side of entrepreneurship
I was on a lunch break from my job at Pier 1 Imports when I got the news I had been waiting for: I was getting a loan to open my own home decor store. Story
Ontario construction software firm Bridgit raises $6.2-million
The company now known as Bridgit Inc. began with what founders Mallorie Brodie and Lauren Lake call “crane hunting” – scouring London, Ont., for construction sites, looking for problems to solve. They found a few. And they’ve raised another $6.2-million to keep solving them. Story
As land values rise, it’s beloved small businesses that feel the squeeze
As land values in Vancouver climb, we’ll see more people mourning the death of a favourite small business forced to close. Story
Small businesses have credit scores too, and a good one can be financially helpful
Every time Jason Pereira’s financial planning firm leases a printer or talks to the bank about borrowing money, its business credit score is checked. Companies want to know not only with whom the firm is doing business, but also its financial wherewithal. Story
After four years, Bill Morneau has yet to make a mark
The spotlight has not always been kind to Bill Morneau. Take, for instance, a town hall meeting held in Oakville, Ont., in September, 2017. A couple of months earlier, during a sleepy summer, Mr. Morneau unveiled a package of changes to the small business tax regime. The issue soon blew up in his face. Story
Individual Pension Plan: a retirement option for those with an entrepreneurial bent
If you’re contemplating an exit from a job with a defined-benefit pension plan, but you’re not ready to stop working just yet, you may be wondering what the options are. Story
When to hire that first employee: a chicken-and-egg debate
Alicia Liebregts knew it was time to make her first hire when she encountered a somewhat pleasant entrepreneurial predicament about a year and a half ago. Rapid growth meant she and her business partner could no longer handle the number of clients that their marketing and advertising firm had acquired. Story
Canada has a skills shortage – but which skills, and where? Lack of data leaves the experts unsure
Five years ago, then prime minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government was convinced that Canada’s labour market was sinking into a deepening skills-mismatch problem: There were plenty of skilled jobs available, but not enough qualified applicants to fill them. Story
WHAT WE’RE READING ELSEWHERE
‘Immigrant entrepreneur’ pilot program now open to applications
The province has officially launched its new Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot. The program, which will include the Sunshine Coast, is designed to attract entrepreneurs from around the world to establish businesses in regional communities. Coast Reporter
Employers look to refugees to ease labour shortage issues
In the midst of a growing labour shortage, more companies are looking to refugees to flesh out talent pools, according to experts. HR Reporter
Jim Estill, CEO and sponsor of 61 Syrian refugee families, invested into Order of Canada
A Guelph entrepreneur and philanthropist has been invested into the Order of Canada as a member. Jim Estill is CEO and owner of Danby Appliances. He is a committed mentor and investor in local technology startup companies. CTV News