Minister Ng announces funding for women’s entrepreneurship

The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund will support women-owned and women-led businesses
TORONTO, Sept. 28, 2018 /CNW/ – The full and equal participation of women in the economy is essential to Canada’s competitiveness because when women succeed, everyone succeeds.

That’s why in Budget 2018, the federal government launched the first ever (WES), a $2-billion investment that seeks to double the number of women-owned and women-led businesses by 2025.

Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, and the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women, who were joined by women entrepreneurs and leaders, announced the and participated in a panel on women’s entrepreneurship.

The up to $85-million investment will help organizations address the barriers and challenges that women entrepreneurs face and deliver improved support and programs for women-owned and -led businesses.

The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy complements Government of Canada efforts to advance gender equality through addressing pay equity, introducing more affordable childcare and putting an end to gender-based violence.

Quotes

“Our government believes that women’s economic empowerment is not just the right thing to do; it’s good for the bottom line. That’s why we launched the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, a strategy that seeks to double the number of women-owned and women-led businesses by increasing their access to financing, networks and advice. It’s a smart investment with an economic and social return. I’m thrilled that the WES Ecosystem Fund will help foster women entrepreneurship from coast to coast to coast.”
– The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion

“When we invest in women, we strengthen the economy for everyone. That is what our government is doing with the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy and the significant investment announced today during Gender Equality Week. By supporting women in business, we are growing our middle class and creating a thriving economy that benefits our sons and daughters. And we have a $150 billion reason to do this well because that’s what we’ll add to our GDP in less than a decade if we successfully take steps to advance equality, such as boosting women’s participation in the workforce.”
– The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women

Quick facts

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For further information: Mallory Clyne, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, mallory.clyne@canada.ca; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, , ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca

 

Original Article can be found at: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/minister-ng-announces-funding-for-womens-entrepreneurship-694619111.html 

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Building Export markets in Europe and the U.K.

What: An exciting trade mission!

Who: Canadian women business owners who want to expand their business via export

Where: Germany and England

When: November 4-10, 2018

How: email the BWIT team to sign up

Business Women in International Trade  (BWIT) is part of the federal government Trade Commissioner Service (TCS). The team is made up of federal government trade commissioners who specialize in helping Canadian women entrepreneurs internationalize. Trade commissioner Lynne Thomson (third from right), attended SHEday 2018 in Winnipeg and connected with export-oriented women business owners Cindy Boissonneault (second from the left), owner of Poco Inspired and Pina Romolo (third from the left), owner of Piccola Cucina.

One of the primary ways that BWIT helps business women expand internationally is by organizing informative trade missions, like this upcoming one to Europe. With stops in Hamburg and Stuttgart, Germany and London, England, this trip will feature a series of events designed to open new markets in Europe for Canadian women business owners.

Why Europe?

With the renegotiation of NAFTA currently in process, we hear a lot these days about international trade agreements. In recent months, Canada signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Europe.

In general, it is an advantage to you as an export-oriented business when Canada has a trade agreement with the country to which you want to export. As explained on the Government of Canada Export Market Research web page, “trade agreements help to eliminate or reduce tariffs on Canadian exports, which can increase your competitiveness in foreign markets.”

A trade agreement does not create excitement about export opportunities, but trade missions do! If you choose to invest and participate in this upcoming BWIT trade mission to Germany and England, you will benefit from on-the-ground market research, making business connections, learning the nuances of the market place, and having a better understanding of how your business could penetrate that market.

For more information on this exciting trade mission to Europe, email bwit@international.gc.ca or visit the BWIT website.

The four women’s enterprise organizations, Women’s Enterprise Centre in BC (WEC-BC), Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK) and the Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba (WECM) work collaboratively with each other and with BWIT to support women business owners who are interested in exporting. All organizations are members of the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC).

Written by Nancy Brommell, Business Advisor with the Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba. Blog post originally published September 2018 at www.wecm.ca

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Government of Canada Announces New Funding and Engagement Plan for Western Canada Growth Strategy

From: Western Economic Diversification Canada

News release

Strategy aims to grow the economy and create middle class jobs by building on Western Canada’s unique strengths and competitive advantages

September 11, 2018 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Western Economic Diversification Canada

The new global economy presents exciting opportunities but also requires greater innovation for businesses and economies to grow. In fact, changes in today’s competitive landscape are driving businesses to rethink their strategies to reach beyond their traditional boundaries.

From coast to coast to coast, Canada’s economy is as diverse as its landscapes, presenting unique challenges and opportunities. That is why the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), today launched an engagement plan to develop a regional growth strategy with Western Canadians for Western Canadians.

As announced in Budget 2018, the Government is committing $208 million over five years to promote the development and diversification of the Western Canadian economy. This strategy will grow the region’s economy, create good middle-class jobs, and lay the foundation for long-term prosperity across the four western provinces.  It also builds on the Innovation and Skills Plan to make Canada a world leader in innovation and create good middle class jobs

Western Canadians are invited to share their ideas online to help shape the Western Canada Growth Strategy. Over the fall, roundtable discussions will take place in major cities across Western Canada with businesses, different levels of government, thought leaders, Indigenous Peoples, rural communities, women, youth, and new immigrants to develop a new targeted approach to economic development with a focus on innovation.

Quotes
“Western Canada’s unique set of strengths and challenges requires a long-term economic growth strategy built in close collaboration with the people who make this economy work. Our government is committed to growing the Western Canadian economy and strengthening its middle class. By engaging directly with Western Canadians, we will develop a Western Canada Growth Strategy that builds on regional strengths and focuses on innovation to establish a foundation for long-term prosperity and good middle class jobs.”

– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada

Quick facts

  • The Western Canada Growth Strategy will be a roadmap to build an innovative Western Canada – one that strengthens the economy, supports innovative and resource-based industries, and increases job opportunities for all Canadians.
  • Western Canada is home to the four fastest-growing provincial populations.
  • Western Canada’s diverse economies create over 35% of Canada’s real gross domestic product (GDP).
  • Over 60% of Canada’s value-added agriculture is produced in Western Canada.
  • Over 425,000 small businesses employ over 3.4 million people across the West.
  • Five of the top 15 Canadian research universities are based in Western Canada.

 

https://www.canada.ca/en/western-economic-diversification/news/2018/09/government-of-canada-announces-new-funding-and-engagement-plan-for-western-canada-growth-strategy.html

 

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