As a measure to advance the federal government's efforts to boost the Canadian small business sector, Minister of State for Small Business Rob Moore hosted an economic forum in Ottawa Wednesday with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
The meeting is part of several discussions intended to illuminate how the government plans to introduce the next phase of the country's Economic Action Plan and how it will impact the 2011 federal budget.
"Our government's top priority continues to be the economy," said Minister of State Moore. "As we work to ensure that small and medium-sized businesses are best positioned to drive the economy forward, today's consultations with the CFIB will be helpful in establishing what Canada's entrepreneurs need from this next phase of the Economic Action Plan."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has launched a number of other small business economic forums in recent weeks, hoping to spur investment and hiring throughout a sector that employs more than half of the country's private workforce.
Last week, the CFIB's Business Barometer Index ended January at 68.9 - down 0.4 points from December but consistent in its emergence from recession-era levels.
