Statement made on 21 March 2011 by Senator Catherine Callbeck
Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck:
Honourable senators, 2011 has been officially designated the Year of the Entrepreneur by the Government of Canada.
I am pleased the federal government has seen fit to recognize the hard work and innovative thinking of entrepreneurs across the country. This year is a great opportunity to highlight the contributions our entrepreneurs have made to Canada and to bring awareness and encouragement to Canada's future entrepreneurs.
Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees represent nearly 98 per cent of the total business establishments in Canada. They drive the Canadian economy, and have continued to do so in the face of economic uncertainty.
Individuals who are self-employed make up a significant portion of the total number of employed people. In 2008, there were 2.6 million self-employed people in Canada, more than 15 per cent of the total employed, and more than 1 million are women. Not surprisingly, the self-employed have seen the most gains in job growth in recent years. From 2001 to 2006, self-employment grew by nearly 19 per cent, which is double the growth of total employment.
In my home province, the most recent figures show there are more than 10,000 self-employed persons on Prince Edward Island, making up nearly 15 per cent of total employment. Even during the recession, the self-employed outperformed the rest of the private sector in terms of job creation. Where the private sector saw a loss of jobs, the self-employed added a net gain of 800 jobs. This performance is a fantastic achievement.
Honourable senators, by marking this year as Year of the Entrepreneur, it is hoped that the public's awareness will be raised on the many contributions entrepreneurs make to our economy and to our communities every day. It is hoped that even more Canadians will be encouraged to move forward in the spirit of entrepreneurship and build on our previous successes. Entrepreneurs create jobs and contribute billions every year to the Canadian economy. The entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow have a vital role to play in the country's economic future.