Newcomer Entrepreneurs in Northeastern Ontario

Questionnaire for Newcomer Entrepreneurs in Northeastern Ontario

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Your answers are anonymous and will only be used in aggregate form to gain insights around how we might better attract and retain newcomer entrepreneurs. You don’t have to answer any questions that make you feel uncomfortable. An analysis of the data may be published in academic or trade journals, but there will be no identifying information attached to it. If you have any questions about this research, please contact Maggie Matear at maggie.matear@timmins.ca or at 705-360-2600 Ext.7099.

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* 1. Which country are you originally from?

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* 2. In which community do you run your business? (if you own businesses in more than one community, answer the questions in terms of only your largest business or your home base).

Cochrane

Kapuskasing

Hearst

Temiskaming Shores & Cobalt

Chapleau

Kirkland Lake

Timmins

Englehart

Other (please specify)

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* 3. How long have you operated the business in this community (check one)

0-2 years

3-5 years

6-10 years

More than 10 years

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* 4. Please answer the following questions by choosing the response that best reflects your answer.

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
I can get what I need in this community	I can get what I need in this community Strongly Disagree	I can get what I need in this community Disagree	I can get what I need in this community Neither agree nor disagree	I can get what I need in this community Agree	I can get what I need in this community Strongly Agree
I belong in this community	I belong in this community Strongly Disagree	I belong in this community Disagree	I belong in this community Neither agree nor disagree	I belong in this community Agree	I belong in this community Strongly Agree
I feel like a member of this community	I feel like a member of this community Strongly Disagree	I feel like a member of this community Disagree	I feel like a member of this community Neither agree nor disagree	I feel like a member of this community Agree	I feel like a member of this community Strongly Agree
This community helps me fulfill my needs	This community helps me fulfill my needs Strongly Disagree	This community helps me fulfill my needs Disagree	This community helps me fulfill my needs Neither agree nor disagree	This community helps me fulfill my needs Agree	This community helps me fulfill my needs Strongly Agree
I have a say about what goes on in my community	I have a say about what goes on in my community Strongly Disagree	I have a say about what goes on in my community Disagree	I have a say about what goes on in my community Neither agree nor disagree	I have a say about what goes on in my community Agree	I have a say about what goes on in my community Strongly Agree
People in this community are good at influencing each other	People in this community are good at influencing each other Strongly Disagree	People in this community are good at influencing each other Disagree	People in this community are good at influencing each other Neither agree nor disagree	People in this community are good at influencing each other Agree	People in this community are good at influencing each other Strongly Agree
I feel connect to this community	I feel connect to this community Strongly Disagree	I feel connect to this community Disagree	I feel connect to this community Neither agree nor disagree	I feel connect to this community Agree	I feel connect to this community Strongly Agree
I have a good relationship with others in this community	I have a good relationship with others in this community Strongly Disagree	I have a good relationship with others in this community Disagree	I have a good relationship with others in this community Neither agree nor disagree	I have a good relationship with others in this community Agree	I have a good relationship with others in this community Strongly Agree

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* 5. What was your level of business experience before you bought/started a business in Canada? (From the following list, chose the first response you see that reflects your answer.)

Previously owned a business outside Canada

Worked in a family business outside Canada

Worked in a family business inside Canada

Had Canadian post-secondary education in Business

Had post-secondary education in Business from outside Canada

No business experience or education

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* 6. What is the main reason you decided to buy or start a business in Canada? Please answer the following questions by choosing ONE response that BEST reflects your answer.

I couldn't get a job in the profession I trained for because of differences in the Canadian system

I couldn't generate the income I need form the jobs available to me

I saw an opportunity to succeed in the market and I took it

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* 7. For my business start-up costs, I relied upon... (Please answer the following questions by checking the column that best reflects your answer.)

	To a great extent	To some extent	Did not try to access	Tried but was declined
Personal savings	Personal savings To a great extent	Personal savings To some extent	Personal savings Did not try to access	Personal savings Tried but was declined
Personal line of credit	Personal line of credit To a great extent	Personal line of credit To some extent	Personal line of credit Did not try to access	Personal line of credit Tried but was declined
Investments from my ethnic community or family members	Investments from my ethnic community or family members To a great extent	Investments from my ethnic community or family members To some extent	Investments from my ethnic community or family members Did not try to access	Investments from my ethnic community or family members Tried but was declined
Government grants and loans, such as the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation or Community Futures Development Corporations	Government grants and loans, such as the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation or Community Futures Development Corporations To a great extent	Government grants and loans, such as the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation or Community Futures Development Corporations To some extent	Government grants and loans, such as the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation or Community Futures Development Corporations Did not try to access	Government grants and loans, such as the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation or Community Futures Development Corporations Tried but was declined
Canadian financial institutions (i.e. bank or credit union)	Canadian financial institutions (i.e. bank or credit union) To a great extent	Canadian financial institutions (i.e. bank or credit union) To some extent	Canadian financial institutions (i.e. bank or credit union) Did not try to access	Canadian financial institutions (i.e. bank or credit union) Tried but was declined
Credit cards or payday loan companies	Credit cards or payday loan companies To a great extent	Credit cards or payday loan companies To some extent	Credit cards or payday loan companies Did not try to access	Credit cards or payday loan companies Tried but was declined

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* 8. Which of the following pairs of circles best represents how closely your business goals are being achieved? Please select one of the choices.

Complete overlap

Large overlap

Moderate overlap

Small overlap

Close but separate

Some distance apart

Very far apart