Status of Women committee  There was a federal program called My Main Street, and I believe it was through FedDev. We had six business ambassadors across the city, and they would go door to door to speak to businesses in their community, really getting to know their businesses and getting to know the entre

Status of Women committee  The 50-30 challenge is a federal government program. The concept behind it is really to ensure that Canadian organizations, non-profit as well as profit, increase representation and inclusion of diverse groups within the workplace while highlighting the fact, the concept, that Ca

Status of Women committee  For women entrepreneurs, it is that first step. That's what we see at the entrepreneurship centre, and that's what we see with the Mastercard program and Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst as well. It's encouraging them to take the first step. That comes from conversations that we have

Status of Women committee  I think we've seen an increase of women in skilled trades. My own department has an advanced manufacturing team, where we're doing a lot of work now on getting women into the skilled trades. Every business visit we go to, it's about hiring talent. Those companies, our bigger em

Status of Women committee  The Brampton Entrepreneur Centre services men, women and non-binary people. We don't differentiate between them. There are members of our innovation district that have programs specifically for women. I can send you the numbers from the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, for example,

Status of Women committee  In the last eight years...? We can look at that data. We have been looking at data since COVID—what happened to businesses since COVID and which sectors they were in. We can look at that data as well for you.

Status of Women committee  Thank you for the question. I think we've been seeing a lot of support since COVID. I hate to be the one who always raises COVID, but that was a real turning point for entrepreneurs and for women, because they were at home with their children. Some of them were not able to go ba

Status of Women committee  I can finish now, if you like.

Status of Women committee  That's okay. I was just going to tell you about the 50-30 challenge, but that's absolutely fine. Thank you very much.

Status of Women committee  I don't think I could give you an exact number. The city of Brampton has about 70,000 businesses of all sizes, from entrepreneurs all the way up. The Brampton Entrepreneur Centre services thousands every year.

Status of Women committee  Do you want me to start from the beginning in English?

Status of Women committee  Sure. Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.

Status of Women committee  Thank you. My name is Clare Barnett, and I am the City of Brampton's Economic Development director. Prior to joining the City, I worked at the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and the Cabinet Office of the Government of Ontario. I've been working in the f

Status of Women committee  Thank you. Good afternoon. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak with you today. My name is Clare Barnett, and I am the City of Brampton's Economic Development director. Prior to joining the City, I worked at the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Tr