Small and medium sized businesses increase the chances of success for all kinds of individual and collective initiatives and ensure the development and maintenance of an economic and social fabric. This paper defines small and medium sized businesses, and offers a quantity of statistical data concerning the importance of their role in the economy. It discusses the necessary distinctions to be made between the terms entrepreneur and manager, and provides a detailed analysis of the major advantages and problems peculiar to small- and medium-sized businesses in Canada. The purpose of the final portion of the paper is to sensitize the reader concerning what is being done about getting to know these businesses better.

The media s contribution to development occurs simultaneously along five closely intermingled influences: plurality and transparency, behavioral, infrastructure and platform, economic, and trade. The media are at the cutting edge of technological change, where the digitalization of content, Next Generation Networks, falling device and distribution costs, ever-increasing abundance and new business models are overturning the pre-existing order of markets and the media, though broadcasting, particularly radio, remain crucial in developing countries. This offers new development opportunities requiring new policy initiatives, and the realization of this by the development community. In many instances the media has yet to attain its appropriate status on the list of development priorities.

This is a report on the state of financing for small & medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada, with information obtained from three Statistics Canada & Industry Canada surveys. Part 1 first analyzes results of a Statistics Canada survey & other sources to create a profile of the demand for debt financing. Key issues covered include application & approval rates, suppliers & debt instruments used by SMEs, collateral & application requirements faced by firms of different employment sizes, industries, regions, & other factors. Subsequent sections in this part review results relating to leasing, risk capital financing, and other sources of financing such as factoring & supplier credit. Part two provides a profile of SMEs & entrepreneurs, with information on the effects of demographic factors on SME financing. It explores the conditions faced by women, youth, Aboriginal, and minority groups in obtaining business financing. The final part offers a history of the SME Financing Data Initiative and examines how this project will be expanded in the future. Appendices include a definition of knowledge-based industries and a glossary.