News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PM to visit Switzerland and Ukraine and attend the 13th Summit of la Francophonie in Montreux, Switzerland

October 15, 2010
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that he will visit Switzerland and Ukraine. In Switzerland, he will meet with Doris Leuthard, President of the Swiss Federation, in Bern, and take part in the 13th Francophonie Summit in Montreux from October 22 to 24. Following the Summit, he will travel to Ukraine from October 25 to 26.

"Canada is committed to promoting and preserving the French language both at home and on the international stage," said Prime Minister Harper. "We will continue working on these objectives at the Francophonie Summit and also support the Organization's active involvement in important global issues."

The Prime Minister will hand over presidency of the Summit, which Canada hosted in Quebec City in 2008, to Switzerland at the onset of the Summit meetings.

The overarching theme of this year's Summit is "Défis et visions d'avenir pour la Francophonie" (outlook and challenges that lie ahead for the Francophonie). Participants will discuss the Organization's participation in international relations, sustainable development and the French language in this era of globalization.

Representatives of some 70 states and governments of countries using French as a common language will take part in the Francophonie Summit in Montreux.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied to the Francophonie Summit by Josée Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister for La Francophonie.

During his meeting with the President of the Swiss Federation, Doris Leuthard, the Prime Minister will discuss important bilateral issues.

The Prime Minister will also travel to Ukraine at the invitation of President Viktor Yanukovych. "I look forward to my meetings with President Yanukovych and others, and to gaining a better understanding of Ukraine, the ancestral homeland of so many Canadians, with its unique society and culture."

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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News Release (REVISED)

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PM announces support for small businesses in Southern Ontario

Canada's Economic Action Plan

October 15, 2010
Vaughan, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the launch of a new business innovation program that will help start-up businesses in southern Ontario create new jobs and gain a competitive edge in today's modern economy. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science & Technology and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario), and Peter Kent, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs – Americas).

"Our Government is committed to creating jobs and making Canada's economy more robust, diversified and competitive," said Prime Minister Harper. "This program will provide start-up businesses in Ontario with the tools they need to attract investment capital, get new products to market and generate wealth and jobs."

The Investing in Business Innovation program is based on direct feedback from business leaders, academics and community leaders from across Southern Ontario who suggested the Government take action to address funding challenges for emerging businesses. It is supported through FedDev Ontario's Southern Ontario Development Program.

The program will encourage greater collaboration between entrepreneurs and investors, provide improved access to financing for start-up businesses, boost private sector investment in start-up businesses, and help accelerate the research and development of new products and ideas and bring them to the marketplace.

The Harper Government created FedDev Ontario in 2009 as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. FedDev Ontario invests in innovation, research and development, skills and training and supports initiatives which increase economic productivity in southern Ontario.

Since July 2009, Canada's Economic Action Plan has contributed to the creation of more than 420,000 net new jobs in the Canadian economy. Since last May, more than 211,000 new jobs have been created in Ontario.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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Backgrounder

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Backgrounder: Investing in Business Innovation program

Canada's Economic Action Plan

October 15, 2010
Vaughn, Ontario

The Harper Government is committed to creating jobs and making Canada's economy more robust, diversified and competitive. The Government seeks to provide Canadian businesses with the tools and advantages they need to prosper and create jobs and economic growth in today's modern, knowledge-based economy.

In keeping with these objectives, the Government will allocate up to $190 million over the next four years to FedDev's Investing in Business Innovation program, which will help start-up businesses in the region thrive and grow.

Investing in Business Innovation is a direct result of feedback from business leaders, academics and community leaders from across southern Ontario, who suggested the Government address funding gaps for emerging businesses.

The program will:

• Provide improved access to financing for start-up businesses: Start-up businesses (50 employees or less) are eligible to apply for up to $1 million in repayable funding if they have funding commitments from accredited angel or registered venture capital investors.

• Boost private sector investment in start-up businesses: Not-for-profit angel investor networks are eligible to apply for one-time non-repayable funding of up to $50,000 to support outreach and promotion activities. An angel investor network must be located in southern Ontario, registered with the National Angel Organization - Ontario or another reputable industry association, and planning to undertake defined investment attraction activities. Organizations representing southern Ontario angel investor networks are eligible to receive up to $2 million to help attract new investors and encourage the growth of investment funds.

• Help accelerate the research and development of new products and ideas and bring them to the marketplace: The program will help start-up businesses bring new services, processes and practices to consumers through increased private sector investment.

For more information, please refer to the Program Guidelines available on the web site at www.feddevontario.gc.ca.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login )]

News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PM announces support for small businesses in Southern Ontario

Canada's Economic Action Plan

October 15, 2010
Vaughn, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the launch of a new business innovation program that will help start-up businesses in southern Ontario create new jobs and gain a competitive edge in today's modern economy. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science & Technology and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario), and Peter Kent, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs – Americas).

"Our Government is committed to creating jobs and making Canada's economy more robust, diversified and competitive," said Prime Minister Harper. "This program will provide start-up businesses in Ontario with the tools they need to attract investment capital, get new products to market and generate wealth and jobs."

The Investing in Business Innovation program is based on direct feedback from business leaders, academics and community leaders from across Southern Ontario who suggested the Government take action to address funding challenges for emerging businesses. It is supported through FedDev Ontario's Southern Ontario Development Program.

The program will encourage greater collaboration between entrepreneurs and investors, provide improved access to financing for start-up businesses, boost private sector investment in start-up businesses, and help accelerate the research and development of new products and ideas and bring them to the marketplace.

The Harper Government created FedDev Ontario in 2009 as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. FedDev Ontario invests in innovation, research and development, skills and training and supports initiatives which increase economic productivity in southern Ontario.

Since July 2009, Canada's Economic Action Plan has contributed to the creation of more than 420,000 net new jobs in the Canadian economy. Since last May, more than 211,000 new jobs have been created in Ontario.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login )]