Mr. Speaker, last week the Women's Enterprise Centre in Winnipeg celebrated its 10th anniversary. Since 1994 to March of this year, Western Economic Diversification Canada's Women's Enterprise Centre in Winnipeg has provided approximately $6.2 million in loans to help start up or expand 193 women-owned small businesses. It is estimated that this investment has helped to create or maintain 527 jobs in Manitoba. It has also hosted more than 19,000 people in training sessions.
Last year the Prime Minister's task force on women entrepreneurs recognized the Women's Enterprise Initiative for its excellent work and recommended the program be adopted across the country.
Initiatives like the Women's Enterprise Centre build on the Speech from the Throne's priority to foster investment by attending to the conditions that encourage entrepreneurs and providers of risk capital.