Speaking Notes for the Honourable Helena Guergis, P.C., M.P. Minister of State (Status of Women) on the occasion of an announcement of funding to WEConnect Canada

March 2, 2009

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Honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, c'est un plaisir d'être ici parmi vous aujourd'hui. I would like to welcome some of my Parliamentary colleagues, including Minister of State for ACOA Keith Ashfield and Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification Lynne Yelich, as well as Mr. Kevin Lynch, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the federal Cabinet.  It is my additional honour to welcome a group of dynamic women entrepreneurs who are helping to change the way Canadians do business – within our borders and in the international marketplace.  Welcome everyone.

This is an auspicious start to International Women's Week 2009.  The theme for this year's activities is Strong Leadership. Strong Women. Strong World: Equality.  Need I say more? This government believes in Canadian women.  We believe that strong leadership enables women and girls to thrive, reach their full potential and help build a more prosperous Canada. 

Today we announce a contribution to WEConnect Canada for a national project that will have a significant impact on women in one of Status of Women Canada's priority areas: increasing women's economic security and prosperity.

We are living in uncertain times and good news, it seems, is in short supply.  While Canada's economy remains strong, Canadians are not immune to the effects of the global financial crisis.  Now more than ever before, our country's continued success depends on women's economic autonomy.  And perhaps more importantly, it depends on women's economic prosperity, and on the well-being of their families and their communities.

Women now make up approximately half the employed workforce in Canada, establish businesses at twice the rate of men, create employment for other Canadians and excel in previously male-dominated careers and courses of study.

Nearly half of all small and medium-sized businesses are now owned in whole or in part by women but these businesses still receive less than five percent of the billions of dollars in supply contracts awarded by governments and large corporations in Canada.  Working with WEConnect Canada, we want to change that.

It is my sincere pleasure, therefore, to announce a contribution from the Women's Partnership Fund of the Women's Program of Status of Women Canada for WEConnect Canada's exciting new project, Opening Doors to Corporate Markets: An Education, Training, Coaching and Mentoring Program.

The newly formed WEConnect Canada has positioned itself to deliver the leading international certification standard for women-owned businesses.  An independent, non-profit organization with a corporate board of directors, WEConnect Canada is responding to the growing demand for a diversity of suppliers by certifying business enterprises solely or primarily operated by women.

WEConnect Canada will receive a total contribution of $611,000 over three years for its Opening Doors initiative.  This multi-faceted skills development program will provide women entrepreneurs with the business education, training, mentoring and networking skills they need to access “supplier diversity markets” – markets made up of small businesses owned by minority groups and women.  This in turn will enable them to expand their businesses and compete both nationally and internationally.

The work of WEConnect builds on the work this Government is doing to support women in business. Our Government is committed to promoting equality for women.We recognize the important contribution that small and medium-sized enterprises make to the Canadian economy.  That is why our Economic Action Plan will increase the amount of small business income eligible for the reduced federal tax rate to $500,000.  This will encourage businesses from across the country to grow – allowing them to expand into different markets.

WEConnect is building on this work.  For many small businesses it can cost close to $25,000 to get their products on the shelf.  By providing women entrepreneurs with the skills and credentials they need to make their products and services more accessible, this project will ensure that more products from women-owned businesses are being bought and used both here in Canada and internationally.  Opening Doors has the potential to bring in revenues to companies across the country, creating the jobs and the economic growth that is so important in these tough economic times.

Status of Women Canada is pleased to work with such a dynamic group of partners in this groundbreaking endeavour to ensure the success of Canadian businesswomen conducting trade around the globe.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the various partners for acting on their commitment to Canadian women in business: the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council, Quantum Leaps, a global non-profit organization dedicated to promoting women entrepreneurs, the Consulate of Canada in Pennsylvania, Businesswomen in International Trade, the Washington, D.C.-based Women's Business Enterprise National Council, WEConnect UK, IECanada (the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters), the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and other federal regional economic development bodies, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Like the many other promising initiatives that our Government is supporting, we are proud to collaborate with our partners to fund WEConnect Canada's promising new initiative.  By working together and sharing a vision, we truly can make a difference in the lives of girls and women in Canada.

Thank you.

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