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Financing hurdles, red tape among challenges facing newcomer businesses

Martin C. Barry
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Financing hurdles, red tape among challenges facing newcomer businesses

CFIB/Scotiabank report suggests more support would ‘empower’ immigrant entrepreneurs

As Canada navigates economic challenges – including heightened Canada-U.S. trade tensions this week – a new economic report commissioned by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business concludes it is essential for all entrepreneurs – including immigrants – to be set up for success.

Assisting newcomers

With that in mind, the report (From Challenges to Opportunities: The Newcomer Entrepreneurial Experience in Canada), looks at the leading hurdles facing newcomer entrepreneurs and their motivations for starting a business in Canada.

It also includes recommendations to policymakers and financial institutions on how to better support these important contributors to the country’s economy.

Sponsored by Scotiabank, the report notes that newcomer entrepreneurs – those who have been in Canada less than 10 years – own more than 7 per cent of enterprises in Canada, although they face unique challenges impacting their entrepreneurial growth and integration in the broader business community.

Entrepreneurial experience

“It takes a lot of courage and resilience to move to another country and open a business,” says Marvin Cruz, CFIB’s director of research and the report’s co-author. “Newcomer entrepreneurs play a crucial role in enhancing the Canadian business landscape and economy by bringing in diverse perspectives and skills.”

The top challenges facing newcomer entrepreneurs include securing financing (considering their limited credit history in Canada), navigating government regulations and compliance, building trust and networks, overcoming culture and communication differences, and accessing information and resources.

A range of backgrounds

Newcomer entrepreneurs choose to start a business in Canada for a wide range of reasons, including their previous entrepreneurial experience from their country of origin, access to market opportunities, the country’s strategic location, the pursuit of autonomy and financial success, and the appeal of a high quality of life and safety.

“As Canada navigates economic challenges, including Canada-U.S. trade tensions, strengthening entrepreneurship is more important than ever,” says Francesca Basta, CFIB’s research analyst, who was also a co-author of the report.

“To enhance Canada’s productivity and global competitiveness, it’s essential that all entrepreneurs, including newcomers, are set up for success,” she continues. “That’s why it’s important for policymakers and financial institutions to provide better and ongoing support to Canada’s newcomers in their entrepreneurial journeys.”

Role of policymakers

CFIB recommends that policymakers work to increase awareness of existing government grants and support programs, create an easily accessible and centralized platform to host critical information on tax rules, labour laws, and licensing requirements, and simplify regulatory compliance while enhancing customer service.

CFIB also recommends expanding immigration options for foreign entrepreneurs in Canada and to continue to support and promote newcomer organizations and settlement agencies that have proven to be effective.

As well, it is suggested that financial institutions should continue to promote mentorship programs and financial literacy resources, remove barriers to improve access to capital for newcomer entrepreneurs and simplify the banking setup process.

Immigrant entrepreneurs

According to the report, immigrants are more likely to be entrepreneurs than individuals born in Canada. While immigrants make up 23 per cent of the population, they own 28 per cent of Canadian enterprises. Additionally, immigrant owned businesses have similar longevity to those owned by Canadian-born entrepreneurs, with 80 per cent lasting two years and 58 per cent lasting seven years.

“As the country seeks to enhance its global competitiveness, the role of newcomer entrepreneurs – those who have immigrated to Canada within the past 10 years and are starting, managing, or expanding a business – has become increasingly important,” the report states.

Perspectives and innovation

“They bring diverse perspectives and innovative ideas which enrich and contribute to the vibrancy of Canada’s business landscape. For many, entrepreneurship is a conscious and empowering choice, allowing them to not only forge their own path to success in Canada, but to create jobs and contribute to local economies.”

“Considering most businesses in Canada are small, supporting newcomer entrepreneurs is crucial for driving growth and innovation in this sector,” the report maintains. “As Canada’s productivity remains stagnant, and business openings are struggling to outpace closures, immigrant entrepreneurs play an essential and needed role in strengthening the Canadian business landscape.”

Favourable survival rates

In addition to underlining their resilience, the report says immigrant entrepreneurs play an important role leveraging their international background and knowledge to expand Canadian trade opportunities. It found that the survival rates of immigrant-owned businesses are comparable to those of businesses owned by Canadian-born entrepreneurs.

After two years, on average, 78 per cent of businesses owned by immigrants remained in operation, compared to 80 per cent of those owned by Canadian-born entrepreneurs. After seven years, the survival rate was 56 per cent for immigrant-owned businesses, closely mirroring the 57 per cent for Canadian-born entrepreneurs.

The report notes that newcomer entrepreneurs bring immense potential to Canada’s economy, but face unique barriers that can impact their growth and integration. It concludes that strengthening support systems for newcomer entrepreneurs “would empower them to thrive, unlocking their full potential and enriching Canada’s business landscape.”

Boyer in Washington with Canada/U.S. cities delegation

Martin C. Barry
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Boyer in Washington with Canada/U.S. cities delegation

The City of Laval announced earlier this week that Mayor Stéphane Boyer will be in Washington D.C. from March 5-7 as Laval’s official representative in a delegation in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.

In addition to promoting the protection of the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River, the alliance (made up of 244 Canadian and U.S. cities) shares the common purpose of defending its members against President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs scheme.

In a statement issued by Laval City Hall on Monday, the city says Laval will be representing the interests of its businesses and employees.

During the gathering in the U.S. capital, Mayor Boyer will be meeting elected congressional officials, leaders of economic interest groups and representatives of the Trump administration. “This mission is taking place in a preoccupying economic context,” says the statement.

“Uncertainty is hanging over, while tariff measures are foreseen by the United States, directly threatening cross-border commercial trade.

“A 25 per cent hike on Canadian goods imported into the United States could have grave consequences for the regional economy, putting in peril jobs and the ability of local businesses to compete.”

“The question of tariffs is worrying,” says Mayor Boyer. “Hundreds of jobs are at risk in Laval. We will therefore be collaborating in initiatives aimed at preserving commercial trade from one side of the border to the other.

“We will also be taking advantage of this mission to strengthen the economic links between Laval and other Canadian cities from the Great Lakes region,” he added.

Fabre MNA honours citizens with National Assembly Medal

Laval News Contributor
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Fabre MNA honours citizens with National Assembly Medal

As part of their role at the National Assembly, elected members of The National Assembly, have the opportunity to award honourary medals to recognize individuals whose exceptional dedication and contributions help improve our society.

These distinctions celebrate those who, through their commitment, have had a profound and lasting impact on their communities.

Recently, Alice Abou-Khalil, MNA for Fabre, had the honour of recognizing three outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to building a more inclusive, supportive, and engaged society.

Whether through social involvement, community service, or the promotion of values that strengthen our collective well-being, each of these recipients has made an undeniable difference in the lives of many.

Bishop Paul-Marwan Tabet

A key figure in the Maronite community in Canada, Bishop Paul-Marwan Tabet, Eparchial Bishop of the Maronite Catholics, was honoured for his outstanding commitment to education and fostering unity and solidarity.

Through his compassionate leadership, he has worked to build bridges between generations and cultures, creating a strong sense of belonging within the community. André Langevin – Founder of Karaté Autisme Through his remarkable journey, André Langevin has shown how passion and resilience can change lives.

A career police officer and black belt in Kyokushin karate, he founded Karaté Autisme after witnessing the transformative impact of karate on his son Philippe, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

Since 2008, he has provided thousands of young people with the opportunity to thrive through adapted, inclusive, and supportive instruction. His dedication, alongside a team of committed instructors, has made Karaté Autisme a leading initiative in promoting inclusion through sports.

Aline Dib First elected in 2013, Aline Dib, City Councillor for the Saint-Martin district in Laval, embodies transparency, integrity, and a deep connection with citizens.

She works tirelessly to improve the quality of life for Laval residents by supporting families, assisting community organizations, and leading environmental projects.

Actively involved in social development and immigration, she is committed to strengthening solidarity and ensuring an inclusive and dynamic living environment for the people of Laval.

Her unwavering commitment makes her a true role model in municipal politics, and her dedication has earned her the distinction of being the first Laval City Councillor to receive a National Assembly Medal in recognition of her exceptional service to her community.

Through these distinctions, MNA Alice Abou-Khalil highlights the vital role of community engagement and honours those whose actions embody the values of inclusion, solidarity, and kindness.

Each of these individuals has demonstrated remarkable leadership and generosity, making Quebec a stronger, more compassionate, and more united place.

Laval News Volume 33-05

Laval News Staff
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Laval News Volume 33-05

The current issue of the Laval News, volume 33-05, published on March 5th, 2025.
Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports.
(Click on the image to read the paper.)

Man dies after being crushed by truck at Laval recycling plant

Martin C. Barry
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Man dies after being crushed by truck at Laval recycling plant

A 58-year-old man was declared dead on Sunday morning at a recycling facility in Laval’s Saint-François district after he was crushed by a truck.

The Laval Police responded to the scene at AIM Recycling around 6 am Sunday.

As the police could find no evidence of a criminal nature, they immediately transferred the case to the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST), Quebec’s worker health and safety agency.

Two CNESST investigators, assisted by officers with the Laval Police, were reported to have visited the site and were expected to be there to interview witnesses over the coming days.

Criminal responsibility in fatal Sainte-Rose bus crash to be decided in April

Martin C. Barry
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Criminal responsibility in fatal Sainte-Rose bus crash to be decided in April
It is alleged that former STL driver Pierre Ny St-Amand was behind the wheel of the bus that rammed the Garderie éducative de Sainte-Rose. (Photo: Facebook)

A Quebec Superior Court judge will be deciding in early April whether former Société de transport de Laval driver Pierre Ny-St-Amand was mentally fit when he drove a bus into the entrance of a Sainte-Rose children’s daycare in early February 2023, killing two children and injuring six others.

A crown prosecutor and a defence lawyer said last week that they will be presenting a joint statement of facts at the next hearing.

According to statements made by the crown during preliminary hearings, two psychiatrists who examined Ny-St-Amand have concluded he should not be held criminally responsible because he has a mental disorder.

In addition to a recounting of the facts, the hearing on April 7 is also expected to include testimony from both psychiatrists.

Longueuil man jailed 30 months for bombing attempt in Laval

Martin C. Barry
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Longueuil man jailed 30 months for bombing attempt in Laval

A 26-year-old man from Longueuil on Montreal’s South Shore has been sentenced to 30 months in prison after being found guilty of a range of criminal charges, including bomb-making, related to a dispute with his former girlfriend and her new partner.

Henri Chevalier Hogue pleaded guilty at the Palais de Justice de Laval in January to the charges, which included possession of explosives and criminal harassment.

In November 2022, Hogue’s ex-girlfriend, identified as Rachel, found a note on the windshield of a car in Pont-Viau belonging to her new boyfriend’s father, wishing them season’s greetings. A little earlier, according to testimony, an unidentified man had been seen placing an object under the car.

A few days later, a man was seen again, but this time placed an object under a car belonging to the new boyfriend, who was identified in court as Jacob, with a note left on the windshield saying “good day” in French.

It was later determined that the bomb had mistakenly been left under the wrong car in the first place, and that the second attempt was made to put it under Jacob’s car.

When the couple became aware of the situation, they called 9-1-1, which sent the Sûreté du Québec bomb squad. The squad proceeded in turn to evacuate part of the neighbourhood.

It was later determined that the object placed under the car was indeed a bomb containing an explosive charge and a load of steel screws capable of inflicting serious injuries and damage.

Following a raid at Hogue’s home, the police found a range of materials for bomb-making, including batteries, explosive powder, electric insulation tape and electric wiring. They were unable to determine exactly how he learned how to make a functioning bomb.

Hogue never admitted to having placed the bomb. The investigators reported that he put up a strong resistance to being fingerprinted, including trying to remove his own fingerprints from his fingers. He could have received a five-year prison sentence, but the court showed leniency, citing mitigating factors.

Laval man posing as DJ charged with online luring

Steve Martin Dubuc. (Photo: Courtesy of LPD)

The Laval Police say they have arrested a man suspected of luring children online and investigators believe there may be more victims.

Steve Martin Dubuc, 58, was arraigned on the charge at the Palais de Justice de Laval. Police say the charges stem from actions he allegedly committed between November 2024 and February 2025.

“Using a Facebook profile in the name of Stefano Tremblay and identifying himself as a DJ working at a popular radio station in the Montreal area, the suspect allegedly contacted minors via the Messenger platform,” the LPD said in a communiqué.

Anyone who believes they have additional information is asked to contact the LPD’s crime hotline at 450-662-4636 or call 911. The file is RPY-241124-015.

Recent LFD fire calls

The fire on Cléroux Blvd. (Photo: Courtesy APL)

February 12 | 22:35 // Building fire on Trépanier St. in the heart of Chomedey. Residential structure. Flames apparent on rear balcony of 2nd storey and propagation onto exterior wall of the building, as well as to part of the roof.

February 4 | 00:56 // Building fire on 4th St. in city’s Laval-des-Rapides sector. Multi-unit residential building. Flames apparent in the garage. Code was 10-09, meaning full assistance required. According to the Laval Fire Dept., this dossier was forwarded onto fire investigators for further inquiry.

Jan 28 | LFD calls in a fire in progress. Building fire on Cléroux Blvd. in the Sainte-Dorothée sector. Residential building. Smoke apparent. Code was 10-07, meaning intervention necessary.

Keep those snowed-over hydrants clear

The Laval Fire Dept. has issued a reminder to all City of Laval property owners who have fire hydrants nearby that they have a duty to keep them clear of now in case a fire breaks out and firefighters need access.

“The storms these last few days have left us with a LARGE white carpet but also a few challenges,” the LFD posted on their X social media feed. “We remind you to carefully clear your emergency exits and to not bury the fire hydrants under mountains of snow,” they added.

Mille-Îles MNA Dufour calls out CAQ for opposing petition’s rail transport request

Martin C. Barry
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Mille-Îles MNA Dufour calls out CAQ for opposing petition’s rail transport request
Mille-Îles Liberal MNA Virginie Dufour.

Grondin ‘preferred to align herself’ with her party’s positions, PLQ MNA said

Mille-Îles Liberal MNA Virginie Dufour is taking issue with her National Assembly CAQ colleague from Argenteuil Agnès Grondin’s failure to support a petition submitted by some of Dufour’s constituents who are asking the government to support development of rail transport.

“Last week in the National Assembly, I had the opportunity to participate in a work session whose purpose was to persuade elected officials with the CAQ to examine a petition, begun by a citizen of my riding, which requested that the government consider a strategy for the development of railway corridors for the transportation of goods and person,” said Dufour, who is the Liberal Party of Quebec’s official spokesperson on environment and climate change issues.

More rail transport

Since it is estimated that the distance travelled by a corresponding quantity of merchandise by train emits 92 per cent less greenhouse gas on average into the atmosphere, compared to road transport, the petitioners are proposing that a $1.7 billion surplus accumulated in the government’s electrification and climate change fund should be used to plan a transition towards rail transport.

During the working session, according to Dufour, CAQ MNA Grondin, along with her colleagues, opposed the petitioners’ request.

Ditto MRC d’Argenteuil

Dufour noted that in the last few weeks, the MRC d’Argenteuil adopted a resolution making a suggestion very similar to the one in the petition submitted by her constituents.

“Mme Grondin’s opposition is somewhat surprising since she herself, for more than 10 years, was a consultant for environment at the MRC d’Argenteuil,” Dufour said. “Apparently, the CAQ’s MNA preferred to align herself with the positions taken by her party, rather than defend her citizens, the mayors in her riding and maybe also her personal convictions,” she added.

Chomedey councillor Aglaia Revelakis distances herself from Action Laval

Martin C. Barry
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Chomedey councillor Aglaia Revelakis distances herself from Action Laval

Veteran district rep blames decision on the party’s mayoralty candidate choice

For elected as well as unelected members of the Action Laval opposition at Laval city hall, longtime Chomedey city councillor Aglaia Revelakis’s announcement that she was abandoning the Action Laval caucus was as unexpected as it was astonishing.

Three terms in office

Revelakis was one of the first Action Laval city councillors to be elected in 2013 after former mayor Gilles Vaillancourt’s monopolistic grip on Laval city council had finally been broken.

Since then, she won clear majorities in three elections, while retaining a large and reliable base of support for Action Laval from within her territory.

Before entering Laval municipal politics, Aglaia Revelakis gained political experience as a key organizer for councillor Mary Deros’s many election campaigns in Montreal’s Parc Extension district.

Former Action Laval councilllor for Chomedey Aglaia Revelakis (seen in a 2018 file photo) says she decided to leave the party largely because of the way she claims they chose their mayoralty candidate for the November 2 elections. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

Kept Action Laval alive

When Action Laval’s political fortunes were reduced at one point almost to nil, Revelakis remained a reliable supplier of voter support. The Chomedey district could always be counted on to bolster Action Laval’s share, based largely on Aglaia Revelakis’s consistent popularity with voters.

At one point, when the party’s fortunes flagged, Revelakis was the lone Action Laval councillor left on city council, and she managed to hold the fort until Action Laval got back its strength.

During the February 4 council, Revelakis read out a few routine community announcements, before finally getting around to dropping the bombshell about leaving the party.

Announced in Council

“As of today, I will no longer sit as municipal councillor with Action Laval,” Revelakis said, adding that she was giving up her membership in the party at the same time.

“Moving forward, I will sit as an independent councillor to continue representing and serving my citizens of Chomedey who have supported me over the past eleven years,” she continued.

“It has been a privilege and honor to represent them at city hall and I think them for their confidence. The citizens of Chomedey are and will continue to be my priority. Chomedey will always be my priority.”

In a phone interview last week with The Laval News, Revelakis suggested that her decision was closely related to her disagreement with the party’s choice of Frédéric Mayer as mayoralty candidate for the November 2 elections.

Not the right one, she says

“That is my choice and my belief,” she said. “Everybody is allowed to believe whatever they want. I have to go with what I believe. And I don’t believe he was the right candidate.”

She said she was never consulted when a decision on a mayoralty candidate was being made. Although she is registered with Élections Québec as one of Action Laval’s two “dirigeants” (directors), she maintained she was never asked.

“As a dirigeant, I should have had some say in this, but I didn’t even have a say in whom they were going to choose,” she said. “This is who they wanted, this is what they wanted, so I said okay, thank you, no problem, I’ll just walk away, that’s all.”

Difficult choice for Revelakis

In the last three City of Laval elections, Revelakis consistently drew around 50 per cent voter support. She said she found her decision to leave Action Laval was difficult, but “I had to go with my beliefs.”

When asked whether she had considered affiliating herself and running with another municipal party (including the Mouvement lavallois), Revelakis said she’d been approached by the ML, as well as by the official opposition Parti Laval.

“Offers have come around from both parties,” she said. “But it’s too early to say. Right now, I want to concentrate on my district and I want to concentrate on my citizens.”

Action Laval’s response

The Laval News reached out to Action Laval’s leadership for their explanation of the procedures they followed when choosing the party’s mayoralty candidate.

According to AL spokesperson Geru Schneider, party president Achille Cifelli was not available earlier this week as he was away on business outside the country. Longtime Action Laval city councillor for Saint-Bruno David De Cotis provided the following e-mailed response.

“Our nomination process reflects our internal democratic tradition,” he said. “As in 2021, the selection of our candidate is based on an in-depth caucus discussion followed by a vote. This enables meaningful dialogue and a shared decision that reflects the values and objectives of our political party.

Mayer had support, said De Cotis

“I would like to point out that our candidate received overwhelming support for his nomination, demonstrating a strong bond within the party,” added De Cotis. “Representatives have also shown their unanimous support for this nomination, confirming the solidity of our choice.”

As for Revelakis’s recent comments, De Cotis said “we find it hard to understand the reaction of our former colleague, especially as she held a position on the party’s executive board.”

He said “her abrupt departure took the whole team by surprise, particularly given her involvement in our decision-making bodies. Nonetheless, we remain focused on our primary mission: to serve the interests of our citizens and work on our community’s priority issues.”

Call 8-1-1 before going to the hospital emergency, Santé Québec advises

Martin C. Barry
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0
Call 8-1-1 before going to the hospital emergency, Santé Québec advises

Public health agency warns of pending flu season peak across the province

Santé Québec, the agency that now oversees public health services all over the province, is advising patients and caregivers that with influenza rates up and the winter flu season almost peaking, turning up at a hospital’s emergency department isn’t necessarily the best course of action to take when there are other alternatives.

Dr. Luc Boileau, director of public health for the province, said last week that flu activity in Quebec is elevated and we could be seeing the worst flu season of the past decade.

Challenging situation

According to Santé Québec, close to half the visits made by patients to emergency departments between February 4 and 10 were by people whose needs were not in fact of an emergency nature.

“It is a challenge,” Robin Marie Coleman, Santé Québec’s assistant vice-president for access to health services, conceded regarding the misconceptions during a video conference call with journalists last Friday.

Long wait times

“This is definitely something we’re trying to work on,” she added, while agreeing with a journalist that wait times for some of the agency’s services, such as the 8-1-1 medical triage phone central for non-urgent health issues, can be long, although less so in comparison to hospital emergency department wait times.

“Sometimes the wait times are long,” she said. “But to put it in perspective, with the long wait times sometimes in the emergency rooms, it’s better and healthier for people to stay at home if they have non-urgent care, and wait in order to be re-directed to a clinic directly with an appointment, rather than expose themselves in an emergency room when it’s not an emergency situation.”

Healthier for people to stay at home if they have non-urgent medical issues, says Santé Québec

Sometimes the best option

According to Coleman, 70 per cent of those patients who turned up at emergency departments in early February had family doctors, while others may have had other options available to them. In cases like these, she continued, “the best option is to stay safely at home if it’s a non-emergency situation and be directly directed to the right service.”

Robin Marie Coleman, Santé Québec’s assistant vice-president for access to health services, says calling 8-1-1 is often the best course of action to take before heading to a hospital emergency department.

But at the same time, she acknowledged that the province’s hospital emergency departments remain inadequate to handle the burden with which they are currently tasked. “We need to improve the different services, and first-line services, and make things much easier for people,” she said.

Worst season in a decade

Late last week, the level of flu activity in Quebec was elevated, said Dr. Luc Boileau, director of public health for the province. He said Santé Québec was following the situation closely, since the province could in fact be facing one of its worst flu seasons in the last 10 years.

He said that in other Canadian provinces, like Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, the presence of influenza had been notably higher this year. “We expect the peak soon to be reached, or that it soon will be,” he continued.

According to Dr. Boileau, it’s never too late to be vaccinated against influenza, and that it is recommended especially for persons regarded as vulnerable, which includes those with compromised immunity and the elderly.

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