Minister Chagger and Michele Romanow participate in the Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network Summit

Minister joins over 100 women business leaders, founders and entrepreneurs to discuss empowering women entrepreneurs

TORONTO, July 16, 2018 /CNW/ - Under the leadership of the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, the Government of Canada recognizes that the full and equal participation of women in the economy is essential to Canada's competitiveness and is undertaking important actions to support women entrepreneurs.

This was the message delivered today by the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism, during keynote opening remarks at the Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) Summit in Toronto, Ontario. Following her remarks, the Minister was joined by Michele Romanow, renowned Canadian entrepreneur and judge from CBC's Dragon's Den, for a question-and-answer session.

Addressing more than 100 Canadian and international women business leaders, founders and entrepreneurs at the first DWEN summit hosted in Canada, the Minister highlighted some of the important actions recently undertaken by the Government to empower women in business. She highlighted Canada's first Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, announced in Budget 2018, which will invest nearly $2 billion to support women entrepreneurs.

The Minister also noted the recent launch of a competitive process to establish an independent, third party?led Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. The Hub, a key part of the Strategy, will collect, compile and share information on women's entrepreneurship and progress made in this area, supplementing the limited data and research available in Canada. The deadline to reply to the request for proposals is September 7, 2018. 

Quote

"Our government knows that when women succeed, everyone succeeds. While Canada is a great place to do business, we know that women entrepreneurs still face unique challenges as they move through the phases of business development. With Canada's first Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, our government's goal is to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025. I challenge all Canadians to consider how, within your organizations and your networks, you can promote women entrepreneurship, engage more women entrepreneurs and support more women leaders."
? The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism

Quick facts

• The Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) was established to empower women entrepreneurs to grow their business through technology, the expansion of global networks and access to capital.
• This is the ninth DWEN summit, which brought together more than 150 female business leaders, and it is the first time Canada has hosted.
• Through Canada's first Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, the Government of Canada is working to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025. Key action areas to address the unique challenges women entrepreneurs face include helping women-led businesses grow, increasing access to capital, improving access to federal business innovation programming, and enhancing data and knowledge.
• The Government of Canada has also passed Bill C-25, legislation to improve the representation of women on corporate boards and in senior management in federally regulated industries.
• Budget 2018 committed to introducing legislation to ensure that women in federally regulated industries receive the same pay for doing the same work as men, as well as to offering new support such as training and apprenticeship programs for women.

Associated links

• Canada's first Women Entrepreneurship Strategy
• Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub

Follow Minister Chagger on social media.
Twitter: @MinofSBT
Instagram: minofsbt

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada