On October 28th, eBay Canada’s Country Manager Andrea Stairs hosted over 100 attendees including Members of Parliament (MPs) and key political staff at eBay Canada’s Entrepreneurs of the Year (EOY) Awards Reception in Ottawa, Canada’s Capital.
The event celebrated three of eBay Canada's EOY winners and provided MPs the opportunity to learn directly from them the benefits that the eBay platform provides to entrepreneurs. It also gave eBay the opportunity to directly engage key government stakeholders on the recently released Commerce 3.0 Report, including its recommendation that Canada raise its de minimis threshold, the value which shipments can enter the country before duty is assessed, from $20 to $200.
Canada’s de minimis is one of the lowest in the world – ranking alongside Jordan and Uganda – and eBay Canada’s proposal would align Canada with the U.S., its closest neighbour and largest trading partner. Additionally, a $200 level would bring the threshold in line with Canada’s duty-free allowance for short-term absences.
Andrea was joined at the podium during her remarks by three MPs – one from each of the three major political parties – to introduce and present the three winners with their awards:
· The Honourable Judy Sgro, Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology and Liberal Party Industry Critic, presented a 2014 Up and Coming Award to Michel Robidoux of Lemondedufoyer.
· Glenn Thibeault, co-chair of the Entrepreneur Caucus, and the New Democratic Critic for Consumer Affairs and for Small Business and Tourism, presented the 2013 Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Farishta Zarify.
· Chris Warkentin, a member of the governing Conservative Party who serves as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and as co-chair of the Entrepreneur Caucus, presented the 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Darrell Renaud of Scouttech-Outfitters.
Other key government officials who attended the event included James Rajotte MP, the Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance; Mike Lake MP, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry; and the Deputy Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Find more information on eBay Inc.’s Canada Commerce 3.0 report.