BizPal cozies up to capital
Online service help with permits and licences
Jessica Davey-Quantick
Northern News Services
Monday, October 31, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Starting a business in Yellowknife got a little less complicated with the launch of BizPaL.
The online service generates a list of required permits and licences from all three levels of government, after entrepreneurs select their location and business.
Mayor Mark Heyck says the new service, launched Oct. 17, really "streamlines" the permitting process, something he says Yellowknife needs.
"We've got a fairly complex regulatory environment, and we have a very entrepreneurial business community here as well," he said.
BizPaL is currently offered across Canada, in more than 850 municipalities, available to more than 70 per cent of Canadians.
Heyck says BizPaL, which is already in 14 other NWT communities, has been in the works in Yellowknife for the last couple of years. He doesn't know for sure why the capital had to wait for the service.
Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Wally Schumann estimates "over 90 per cent" of businesses in the NWT are small and independently owned.
"I've been in small business, I know exactly what it's all about, you go to apply for all these various things, and you're running all over the place," said Schumann.
"I've been there, I know how overwhelming and daunting it can be to figure out all the different levels of stuff you have to do, from federal to territorial and municipal. A lot of people don't have a clue sometimes on the amount of stuff that's involved, from workers comp to even getting a local business licence."
