SUPPORTING WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP

“LITTLE GIRLS WHO DREAM OF BECOMING WOMEN WITH A VISION”

– Vedika Goel

VISION AND COMMITMENTS BY 2025

  • SECURE THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THE DIMENSION E PROGRAM

  • PROVIDE CUSTOM SERVICES TO ALL WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR

  • FOSTER CANADA-WIDE PARTNERSHIPS IN WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP

  • BECOME THE GO-TO NETWORK FOR WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN CANADA

WHY WE’RE WORKING ON THESE ISSUES

According to the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy by Canada Economic Development (CED), the main challenges facing women farm owners are:

  • Access to financing (lack of savings, inadequate or unsuitable public financing, difficulty securing private financing)
  • Availability of land and the value of agricultural assets
  • Work/family balance, the dual burden of work/family

Lack of savings poses a problem in itself, but it also reflects the lack of access to financing, as most banking institutions require a certain level of assets as collateral for a loan. For 22.5% of women, financing comes from their families and loved ones, as compared to just 9.9% among men.

Yet according to CED, women business owners feel less capable in negotiations and dedicate less time to business networks, even though women need more support than men in business ownership.

BY THE NUMBERS

WOMEN SOLE PROPRIETORS
0%
MEN SOLE PROPRIETORS
0%
WOMEN WHO TAKE OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS
0%
MEN WHO TAKE OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS
0%
WOMEN WHO SETTLE ON THEIR SPOUSE’S FARM
0%
MEN WHO SETTLE ON THEIR SPOUSE’S FARM
0%
11690

Number of farm operators in Quebec

of women owners and co-owners

ACHIEVEMENTS