An initiative of the McGuinty government, the Small Business Agency of Ontario (SBAO) works within the Ontario government and with other levels of government to ease small businesses' regulatory and paper burdens and improve the quality of small businesses' experience and interactions with government.

Who We Are

The Small Business Agency of Ontario is made up of representatives of Ontario's business community and elected representatives of the Ontario government.

Drawing talent from both the public and private sectors will allow Agency members to gain insight on issues facing Ontario's small businesses, and use that knowledge to work within the Ontario government to ensure the government's regulatory decisions take into account small business impacts.

The Chair of the Small Business Agency of Ontario is Jean-Marc Lalonde, MPP Glengarry-Prescott-Russell and Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of Economic Development and Trade, the Honourable Joseph Cordiano. Members include:

Ontario small business owners – operators:

• Claude Boudrias
• Mary-Carolyn Hart
• John Johnston
• Pamela McDonald
• Marilyn Wood

Representatives of key small business associations that represent small business owners across Ontario:

• Judith Andrew, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
• Ian Howcroft, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
• Stuart Johnston, Ontario Chamber of Commerce
• Ashley McClinton, Retail Council of Canada

Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) who have been appointed as Parliamentary Assistants to Ministries that interact frequently with the small business community:

• Wayne Arthurs, MPP (Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance
• Jim Brownell, MPP (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism
• Jean-Marc Lalonde, MPP (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade
• Jeff Leal, MPP (Peterborough), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy
• Judy Marsales, MPP (Hamilton West), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• Bill Mauro, MPP (Thunder Bay-Atikokan), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Northern Development And Mines
• Mario Racco, MPP (Thornhill), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour
• Liz Sandals, MPP (Guelph-Wellington), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Government Services
• Tony Wong, MPP (Markham), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Research And Innovation
• Maria Van Bommel, MPP (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs