Status of Women committee  I actually used to volunteer for them, so I'm familiar with their program. I think the key is that not only do the young people get a grant, but they get a mentor for two years. That's actually what the government needs, I think, because—let's face it—this is taxpayers' money. If you are giving money to futurpreneurs, you want to make sure it's being well spent, especially given the failure rate of new businesses.

Status of Women committee  When we were writing our book we talked to a lot of women who were what I'd call the sandwich generation. They have teenagers, they may be going through a messy divorce, and they also have senior parents. It's a question of having time to deal with those situations. It's almost as though it could push them over the edge, because it's very difficult.

Status of Women committee  I don't think they should be. Actually, because I am here more to represent women entrepreneurs—and of course I have run out of time—let me say that women entrepreneurs can't afford to take time off. We had a woman the other week who is expecting her first baby. She was in tears, because she's worried about her business and what is going to happen.

Status of Women committee  Yes.

Status of Women committee  She can't afford to take them up.

Status of Women committee  Quite a few are single-person, but we go from people who have just started right up to people who are in the top 100. Some of the women are in the top 100, and yes, they have lots of employees. Taking on an employee is tough.

Status of Women committee  I was listening to the previous discussion and was thinking, when they were talking about putting the minimum wage up to $15, that as a small business owner it would be rather prohibitive. I think that's one of the concerns that small business owners would bring forward. If you're going to do it, then I think you need to look at what you are going to give the small business owner to help offset it, because the bottom line is the bottom line, and they cannot afford to do it.

Status of Women committee  I used to work with women who were going into the skilled trades. One of the most effective things we did was bring in a young welder, who brought her first paycheque. As soon as the women saw how much she earned, they were thinking “oh”. Women have the same sorts of skills. They have fine motor skills.

Status of Women committee  Another thing is, let's look at the bottom line. As you were saying, when women are on their boards, businesses do better. That may be the way to approach corporations, to say, “This is going to improve your profits at the end of the day, if you are seen to be a company that believes in women and diversity and you actually have representatives there.”

Status of Women committee  There's a group called BoardMatch, certainly in Ontario, that will match you up with a board position. It's back to the lack of confidence again. Women really need to understand and believe they have something to contribute.

Status of Women committee  It is a gap.

Status of Women committee  The regional government also provides some of those programs, but there is some strength in bringing together women who are in the same situation. It builds a community and they realize they're not alone in their situation.

Status of Women committee  That is the sort of work that women's enterprise centres do in the other provinces. They support women as they go through. They run programs that are funded by the federal government. They will also help them access loans and they'll start a peer lending circle. PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise, in Thunder Bay, does that right now.

Status of Women committee  I haven't. I've sat on several non-profit boards, but I haven't been involved in that process. What I know is that you need to have at least three women on a board to make a difference. If it's tokenism, it's not really going to work as well.

Status of Women committee  Yes. It's still in the mall.