Yes, thank you very much.
First off, I invite all the women and men to come to an Advancing Women conference. I think it's a really eye-opening experience. Perhaps if more government members, employees, and people who work in the government agencies attended a conference such as this, they would really get the true feeling of what the issues and opportunities are.
As for the funding opportunities, because I'm in the private sector, an entrepreneur, I am not eligible for government funding. However, I have appreciated the support that the government has provided to the farmers and producers who have attended the conference.
One thing I have heard, a critique, is that the farmers feel that it is very difficult to apply. There are a lot of criteria that you have to meet to make an application. The timing of an application is very difficult. Oftentimes, while our conferences are held in March, April, and October, potential applicants find that by the time they realize about the conference and want to apply to register for it, the funding date has closed. It seems odd to me that a date would close for people who want to continue their education and go to a conference such as Advancing Women.
That would be one suggestion.
I think it's important that the government does get involved in not only funding the women who attend this conference from the farmer and rancher perspective or group, but the government should also take the opportunity to fund speakers at a conference such as this. I don't see why that would make such a horrid circumstance if the government were to support an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs are doing a lot in this industry, and more as the years go on. I find it very frustrating being an entrepreneur when a government association can get funding to hold six meetings across the province to write a report, while I have 2,500 women coming to conferences, 500 at every conference, which is basically unheard of today, and I don't get one dollar.
Sponsor a speaker. Do something to show your involvement and support of the women who come to this conference.