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P.A. signs business license agreement with municipalities

Dec 7, 2016 | 4:00 PM

Business owners in the Prince Albert region have less red tape to navigate thanks to an inter-municipal business license (IMBL) agreement signed this morning.

The agreement, a two-year pilot project between the City of P.A. and the towns of Shellbrook, Rosthern and Duck Lake, means licensed businesses can apply for an inter-municipal license, allowing them to operate legally in any of the signed municipalities.

John Guenther, P.A.’s director of planning and development services, said the IMBL agreement represents major progress for regional economic development. He estimated 50 to 60 businesses will see direct benefits from the IMBL agreement.

“The more we can work together on smaller things like this, the more we can work on bigger things too,” Guenther said. “It’s an easy win for the region.”

Guenther said the agreement is meant to benefit trades workers, contractors, photographers and other mobile businesses.

“Most people are pretty stationary, so they’re not moving from place to place,” he said. “It’s more of the mobile trades-oriented ones that will probably be the most affected.”

If the pilot program is successful, Guenther noted it could be implemented in other parts of Saskatchewan.

“The province has helped initiate this, so they’re looking for us to be a poster child,” he said.

Guenther said there are no plans to raise the price of a business license in P.A., even though the IMBL agreement likely means fewer applications for licenses in the city. Currently an annual license costs $100.

“There will be fewer people avoiding business licenses,” Guenther said. “We actually think our revenues will go up.”

According to Guenther, more regional economic development initiatives will be coming to city council in January.

P.A. Chamber of Commerce CEO Larry Fladager said the IMBL agreement will make life easier for contractors and other small businesses.

“That’s going to save them time, save them money, and they’ll be able to get their work done a lot faster,” Fladager said.

“I think it’s a good first step, but I think it could go a little further,” Fladager said, noting the agreement will become more effective as more municipalities sign up to participate.

 

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

@TMacPhersonNews