April 7, 2010: Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London, today announced the launch of the Small Business Internship Program (SBIP) for 2010 in Ontario. SBIP helps small and medium-sized enterprises across Canada hire approximately 400 student interns annually to help with information and communication technology (ICT) projects, improving their productivity and competitiveness.

"Canada's SMEs are a major engine of the Canadian and Ontario economies," said Preston. "SBIP will help them to harness the power of information and communications technologies and e-commerce to grow and create jobs."

SBIP allows Canadian small businesses to apply to hire a qualified student intern for a 12-week period to help them with e-commerce ICT projects. SBIP reimburses up to 75 % of each participating SME's eligible salary and benefit costs.

"The Program demonstrates the government's support for the small business sector here in Ontario," added Preston. "Our government is working hard through our Economic Action Plan, and through programs like SBIP, to give SMEs opportunities to succeed."

Industry Canada has selected 14 organizations from across Canada as delivery agencies for SBIP. The delivery agencies will be responsible for selecting SMEs to participate in SBIP. This is being done in anticipation of the first interns being placed with small businesses this summer. Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporation will deliver the program in Rural Ontario.

SBIP is a collaborative effort of Canadian small businesses, post-secondary institutions and non-government organizations that offers post-secondary students hands-on experience working on e-commerce projects under the mentorship and coaching of entrepreneurs.

SBIP will receive $17.5 million in funding through 2014 as part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy.

For more information on SBIP and its delivery agencies, please visit www.ic.gc.ca/sbip.