As Submitted to the Whitehorse Star on Friday, December 12th, 2014 by Mike Nixon, Minister of Tourism and Culture
December is a busy time for Yukoners. Juggling staff parties, children’s concerts and family dinners can push your Christmas shopping to the back burner. But whether you are one of the few who is ahead of the game with just a few last-minute items to pick up, or are like the majority of us who perhaps haven’t even gotten started, there is still time to consider where you’ll be making your purchases. I encourage all Yukoners to consider shopping locally.
Small businesses play a crucial role in creating jobs, strengthening community cohesion and enhancing local character. They are an essential part of Yukon’s economy. The benefits of shopping locally can help build a lasting culture of support for small business and can serve to inspire local entrepreneurs. Indeed, if you’ve heard this week’s news, you will see that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the territory. Five-year-old Yukoner Huxley Briggs has taken it upon himself to build and sell his own product at a Whitehorse toy store. The young entrepreneur has crafted wooden blocks from his father’s spare wood, approaching the store in person to get them on the shelves. Part of the sales will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters, thanks to the help and encouragement of the store owner.
While Briggs embodies the creativity and drive required to get a product to market, success is largely dependent on a supportive community. This is why the Yukon government undertook initiatives to create an environment that better enables small business and local products to succeed. We recently amended the Income Tax Act, reducing the small business corporate tax rate from four per cent to three per cent, allowing businesses to retain a greater portion of their earnings.
We remain committed to working with farmers and industry associations to increase the production and sales in the Yukon agricultural and agri-food industry, including supporting local markets. See if you can land some local meat or vegetables on your table for Christmas dinner.
Shoppers can also look for the Created in Yukon snowflake symbol, which raises awareness of the wide range of Yukon-made arts and crafts products. The symbol helps consumers quickly identify locally-made or locally-produced items. Purchasing these items directly supports Yukon artists and craftspeople. We are fortunate to have such a vibrant arts and crafts sector working in our territory.
I’m pleased to see the number of local businesses cropping up in Yukon. Yukoners making special trips into Whitehorse may be surprised at all the new options for Christmas shopping in our capital city.
Local businesses are owned and operated by people who live here, and are invested in our community’s future. They hire other Yukoners, sponsor events and contribute to our charities. In fact, donations to local charities and non-profit organizations also make great gifts. To find a list of Yukon non-profit organization names and contacts, you can visit this website, that Yukon College’s research helped compile.
On behalf of the Yukon government, I wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season, and encourage all Yukoners to consider local options when celebrating this Christmas.
Mike Nixon
Minister of Tourism and Culture