When we build a more inclusive economy, we build a stronger economy that works for everyone. That's why the Government of Canada continues to take action to advance gender equality and ensure all entrepeneurs have access to the opportunities and resources they need to grow their businesses, which will create good middle-class jobs for Canadians.
Today, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business, joined by the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced additional funding of up to $3.8 million for the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) to continue providing support for women entrepreneurs across the country.
The WEKH is a national network consisting of 10 regional hubs and an accessible digital platform that helps connect women entrepreneurs with the resources and information they need to grow their businesses. The funding announced today will allow the WEKH to:
- create more partnerships with diverse business support organizations;
- continue efforts to build relationships in the Black, Indigenous and other diverse women entrepreneur ecosystems and ensure alignment with the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub and the 2SLGBTQI+ Knowledge Hub;
- continue to raise awareness and profile examples of success in women entrepreneurship; and
- enhance efforts to reach mainstream corporate, government and media organizations for the application of knowledge and research.
The WEKH is a key component of Canada's first-ever Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, a nearly $7 billion initiative that has helped support tens of thousands of women entrepreneurs across Canada since its inception in 2018. This additional funding will ensure that the WEKH can help even more women entrepreneurs start up and scale up their businesses.
