Asper Business Service Centre Opened

[CAWED]

_ASPER BUSINESS SERVICE CENTRE OPENED _

_WINNIPEG, Manitoba A new Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre
(C/MBSC) network site will provide valuable information and resources
for young entrepreneurs looking to start or expand a business. The new
C/MBSC network site will be located in the Asper Centre for
Entrepreneurship at the University of Manitoba Fort Garry campus. _

The new centre was officially opened today by _The Honourable Lloyd
Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs_, on behalf of the
_Honourable Ron J. Duhamel, Secretary of State for Western Economic
Diversification_, and by _Charleswood MLA Myrna Driedger_, on behalf
of the _Honourable James Downey, Minister of Industry, Trade and
Tourism_.

"This new _Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre_ is a welcome
addition to the University," said _Minister Axworthy_. "Through this
partnership with the provincial government and the _Asper Centre for
Entrepreneurship_, local entrepreneurs will receive the assistance
they need to realize their business goals."

"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 Ms. Driedger. "This
new site makes business information and resources more accessible to
entrepreneurs in _Winnipeg_ and provides them with more tools to make
their businesses prosper."

"The Asper Centre is pleased to become the latest satellite site for
the _Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre_," said _Centre Director
Robert Warren_. "The resources provided by this association will allow
us to become the premiere site for entrepreneurial information on
campus and provide all students with a tremendous information resource
to draw on. With this association, we look forward to helping develop
Manitoba's future entrepreneurs."

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. Working in partnership with
community and industry organizations, the _C/MBSC_ sites will provide
expert business advice, counselling and support to aspiring
entrepreneurs and small businesses.

This expansion to rural areas will ensure a broader awareness of the
_C/MBSC_ and its services. An additional 17 centres will be set-up
throughout the province, located in _Community Futures Development
Corporation (CFDC)_ offices, entrepreneur centres, municipal
organizations, as well as youth, Aboriginal and technical centres.

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 todays
business environment. The _C/MBSC_ is managed by _Western Economic
Diversification Canada_ and _Manitoba Industry, Trade and Tourism_.

Canada Business Service Centres provide timely, accurate information
and referral services to new or existing entrepreneurs free of charge
in all regions of the country. There are 12 CBSCs across _Canada_. By
March 1999, 370 access arrangements, much like this site, will be on
stream, helping to strengthen community economic development.

The regionalization of the _C/MBSC_ sites complements the national
Canada 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 Canadas _Connecting Canadians__ _initiative, which is
helping Canadians to become the most connected people on earth, ready
for the jobs and opportunities of todays knowledge-based economy.

_[3]Backgrounder_