Small businesses aren’t a “small” part of our economy—they make up 98% of all businesses in Canada.

“I’m happy to kick off Small Business Week 2023 by making such a fitting announcement to support women entrepeneurs alongside the EEQ. Today’s announcement is great news for nearly 2,000 women-owned businesses across Canada and is another concrete step our government is taking to break down the barriers women face when starting their own business. Supporting an inclusive economy means supporting a stronger economy that will help create good middle-class jobs for Canadians across the country. I invite Canadians to join me this week and every week in supporting local businesses and celebrating their invaluable contributions to our economy and communities.”
– The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business

“Today’s announcement demonstrates our government’s continued commitment to promoting the full and equal participation of women in our economy. For the women entrepreneurs of Saint-Léonard–Saint-Michel, this financial support will enable them to put in place the tools they need to start or expand their businesses.”
– Patricia Lattanzio, Member of Parliament for Saint-Léonard–Saint-Michel

“The EEQ has been committed to transferring its know-how to local economic development organizations for many years. We think that each region has a unique reality and that work to support and advance entrepreneurship should be done on the ground. Our goal of best serving entrepreneurs of all types is what’s driving us to join forces with economic development partners nationally and internationally. Together, we’re acting as agents of change for entrepreneurs, helping make them more confident, knowledgeable and resilient in an ever-evolving world. This financial support from the Government of Canada is a key element in the development and success of a project of this scope.”
– Michel Fortin, Executive Director, École des entrepreneurs du Québec

• Small Business Week has been a registered trademark of the Business Development Bank of Canada since 1986.

• The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) is a nearly $7 billion investment that includes:

  • the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, which is enabling existing women-focused loan programs to provide additional affordable microloans to women entrepreneurs;
  • the Inclusive Women Venture Capital Initiative, which seeks to broaden access to funding and build a more inclusive venture capital environment for Canadian women;
  • the WES Ecosystem Fund, which is helping remove barriers to the support networks and deliver the resources that women entrepreneurs need to start up, scale up and access new markets; and
  • the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, which has brought together 10 regional hubs, over 300 organizations and thousands of women entrepreneurs to create a more inclusive and supportive environment to grow women’s entrepreneurship in Canada.

• The government is also investing in removing systemic barriers faced by diverse entrepreneurs through programs like the Black Entrepreneurship Program and the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program.

• To ensure women have equal access to the benefits and opportunities arising from international investment, Canada is taking an inclusive approach to trade by integrating gender-related provisions in all its free trade agreements. The government has also co-signed the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement.

Associated links

• Fighting for the middle class
• Government announces lower credit card transaction fees for small businesses
• Budget 2023—A Made-in-Canada Plan: Strong Middle Class, Affordable Economy, Healthy Future

Nadine Ramadan
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Small Business
343-575-5436
nadine.ramadan@ised-isde.gc.ca

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
media@ised-isde.gc.ca

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