REGIONAL BUSINESS SERVICE CENTRE OPENED IN MORDEN

[CAWED]

REGIONAL BUSINESS SERVICE CENTRE
OPENED IN MORDEN

_MORDEN, Manitoba - A new Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre
(C/MBSC) network site in Morden will provide valuable information and
resources for entrepreneurs in the region looking to start or expand a
business. The new C/MBSC network site will be managed by the Morden &
District Chamber of Commerce._

Opening of the new site was announced earlier this week by the
_Honourable Ron J. Duhamel, Secretary of State for Western Economic
Diversification_, and the _Honourable James Downey, Minister of
Industry, Trade and Tourism_.

"This new Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre is a welcome
addition to the _Morden_ area," said _Dr. Duhamel_. "Through this
partnership with the provincial government and the _Morden & District
Chamber of Commerce_, we are bringing more services to more people in
right in their community."

"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. Downey. "This
new site makes business information and resources more accessible to
entrepreneurs in the Morden region and provides them with more tools
to make their businesses prosper."

"We are excited about having this Canada/Manitoba network site in our
community," said _Glenn Sindon_, president of the Morden & District
Chamber of Commerce. "With the new business publications, computer
access and information resources, we will be able to provide the
necessary information to help more people become successful
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 today's
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 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.

_[3]Backgrounder_