Anyone who has set up a new business knows it helps when government red tape can be streamlined to save time and money.

BizPaL is a federal-provincial government initiative that helps entrepreneurs quickly zero in on which licences and permits they will require. This free Internet-based service is available 24/7 and is accessible through many municipal web sites across Saskatchewan. The program offers a self-serve question and answer wizard that helps the entrepreneur generate a complete, customized list of the permits and licences for their business needs.

Entrepreneurs who simply answer a set of questions about the business they are interested in will receive a customized list of requirements for all levels of government. Permit and licence applications are also provided to make BizPaL a one-stop-shopping information source.

BizPaL can significantly reduce government involvement and expense, while improving the service experience for clients. In addition to increasing its client list, BizPaL is actively seeking new municipal partners to expand its network and better serve business. With its clear, concise approach, BizPaL simplifies the permit and licence process for entrepreneurs and will give your municipality the competitive edge it needs to attract and retain businesses.

BizPaL delivers services to both end-users and municipalities:

• Spend less time with clients—With BizPaL, business clients can self-serve and answer the bulk of questions themselves with a user-friendly Q&A wizard.
• Increased compliance—Businesses gain a better idea of their obligations and have all the information they need to meet them.
• Gain a competitive advantage—BizPaL streamlines the business permit and licence process to make your region, municipality, or province more attractive to business. This can directly benefit the local economy.
• Leverage existing web forms and services—BizPaL works with your existing web investments to reduce the time and cost involved in developing new tools.
• Consistent information—BizPaL provides your call centre and counter staff with accurate, up-to-date and consistent information.

BizPaL was launched in 2005 as a pilot project with a federal investment of $3.5 million. Budget 2006 provided $6 million over two years to accelerate expansion of the initiative. The program is now up and running in various parts of Canada and widely available in Saskatchewan.

To learn more about BizPaL, visit: www.bizpal.gov.sk.ca, or you can email bizpal@gov.sk.ca.

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