Nellie Akalp started her second company in the middle of a recession. You'll absolutely want to find out how she was able to successfully navigate one of the most challenging time for most small businesses. Is it easier the second time around? You'll find out when you listen to my interview with Nellie Akalp.

In our surveys, too, small business owners tell us at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) that excessive regulation is their second-biggest burden, right after taxes. That's why CFIB launched Red Tape Awareness Week in 2010.

On January 14, 2012 the Government of Canada finally made some details available about its venture capital measures first announced in the 2012 Budget Plan. It is not clear what the overall intent of these measures is. Is the intent to help build Canada's lack luster venture capital market over the long-term or spur economic growth in the short term?