New education and technology centre to also serve as satellite business site

[CAWED]

_NEW EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE TO ALSO SERVE AS SATELLITE
BUSINESS SITE _

_MORRIS, Manitoba -- Entrepreneurs in rural Manitoba will soon have
direct access to expert business advice, counselling and support
thanks to the opening of a new $500,000 Entrepreneur Technology and
Education Centre (ETEC) and the establishment of _[3]18 satellite
Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centres (C/MBSC)_ outside Winnipeg. _

The _Honourable Ron J. Duhamel, Secretary of State for Western
Economic Diversification; the Honourable Franklin Pitura, Minister of
Government Services; _and_ Provencher MP David Iftody_ were on hand
today to officially open the new _ETEC centre_ and launch the first
_C/MBSC site_.

"Small business owners need as much help as they can get to remain a
serious player in today’s competitive marketplace," said _Mr.
Duhamel_. "Now, with the ETEC and 18 new satellite business centres
across the province, we are able to help more people realize their
entrepreneurial dreams wherever they are."

"Small business owners are the backbone of our economy and we are
pleased to participate in this expansion of the Canada/Manitoba
Business Service Centres across Manitoba," said _Mr. Pitura_. "Making
business information and resources more accessible means
entrepreneurs, no matter where they’re located, will have more
tools to make their businesses prosper."

_Western Economic Diversification Canada_ provided $100,000 towards
the _ETEC_ project which will also serve as home to one of the
satellite business service centres. The centre will be managed by the
_Morris MacDonald School Division. _

The expansion of services to rural areas will ensure a broader
awareness of the _C/MBSC_ and its services. Locations of the new sites
will include _CFDC_ and municipal offices, as well as youth,
Aboriginal and technical centres.

"The ETEC is a great asset to our community," said _Mr. Iftody_. "This
state-of-the-art centre will provide new and existing entrepreneurs
with the advice and resources they need to succeed in business."

_ETEC_ is a partnership arrangement with communities, public agencies
and business whose goal is to deliver quality training programs to
meet training needs using the latest computer-based technology.

"ETEC’s flexible schedule allows students to work at their own
pace or with the help of a qualified instructor on a variety of
subjects approved by Manitoba Education and Training," said _ETEC
Coordinator Martial Marcoux_. "Students can also earn credits toward
completing high school and post-secondary education, as well as
apprenticeship certification."

To be successful, entrepreneurs require access to education,
technology and business development resources. Through a cooperative
arrangement with the main _C/MBSC_ office in _Winnipeg_, clients
across _Manitoba_ will have direct access to a wide variety of
government and business information.

The _C/MBSC_ was established in 1998 as a joint partnership between
the federal and provincial governments to consolidate similar services
into one central area. Its mandate is to serve small business by
making available the information they need to succeed in today’s
business environment. The _C/MBSC_ is managed by _Western Economic
Diversification Canada _and_ Manitoba Industry, Trade and Tourism_.

The regionalization of the _C/MBSC_ sites complements the national
_Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre_ network which will see up to
3,700 sites set up throughout _Canada_ and the _Northwest
Territories_. This expansion of service is also one step closer to
realizing the _Government of Canada’s ’Connecting
Canadians’_ initiative, which is helping Canadians to become the
most connected people on earth, ready for the jobs and opportunities
of today’s knowledge-based economy.