Status of Women committee  We were lucky because we had friends and family who supported us in a financial way to launch our business. That was exceptionally wonderful but it is not necessarily the typical path. I think access to capital is a critical issue for business in general, but for women in particular.

Status of Women committee  I'd like to say that it's vastly improved, but it's still a challenge. The research will show that it's harder for women. It's harder for women start-ups. I think Ms. Roy made the comment that we have to do more and be better just to be equal. I think that's also true, even in the start-up culture.

Status of Women committee  That's the Cherie Blair Foundation.

Status of Women committee  Yes, out of the U.K.

Status of Women committee  I'm not aware of anything similar in Canada. The strength of that program is that they use technology to allow mentors and mentees to get together across distances and time zones. It often is women who have very modest businesses and they're trying to really grow their businesses and increase, obviously, their livelihood and benefit their family and community.

Status of Women committee  Absolutely.

Status of Women committee  I've done more than that.

Status of Women committee  I think that mentorship can start immediately. I echo Ms. Roy's comments in regard to agitating and moving forward. I think it's really important for women, particularly young women, to look around for mentors. It doesn't have to be in a formal program. The one I mentioned, women in communications and technology, is a formal program.

Status of Women committee  In my experience, the relationship is rich because it's two ways. The mentee is benefiting from the expertise of the mentor, but similarly the mentor has the opportunity to learn new things from the mentee. It is a very...I wouldn't say it's a universal approach. The mentee wants to get to next faster.

Status of Women committee  In the formal setting of WCT, as an example, that would be women in the communications and technology industry who are typically interested in moving their career forward, but forward could also be laterally to a different aspect of the industry, etc. In an informal way, which I do very regularly, it tends to be women entrepreneurs who are looking for advice from someone who has been there already, and hopefully you can save them from the pain and difficulty of mistakes you made.

Status of Women committee  Thank you, Madam Chair and committee members, for the opportunity to speak to you today about economic leadership and prosperity for women in Canada. My name is Janice McDonald and I am a serial entrepreneur in the music and apparel industry. I'm delighted to contribute to the important work you are doing in looking at systemic barriers to women's advancement.