Breaking News
Impact of HST in Ontario and BC on Manitoba business
As of July 1, Ontario and British Columbia introduced the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). While the Manitoba government has not adopted the new sales tax system, businesses in Manitoba will still be impacted. Deloitte and The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce have prepared an information sheet for business owners to outline how you may be impacted.
Blueprint for Women’s Business Growth
“Women retain majority ownership of 30% of Canada’s 1.6 million small– and medium–sized enterprises. Yet, only 37% of majority female-owned SMEs are categorized as ‘high growth’ compared to 63% of majority male–owned firms.
In addition, over 900,000 of Canada’s 2.6 million self-employed workers are female. However, female self-employed workers earn significantly less than male counterparts.” From Blueprint for Economic Growth—Action Strategies to Support Canadian Female-owned Enterprises
The goal of the Blueprint for Economic Growth, a Canadian initiative, is to support women’s enterprises through the creation of public policy, advocacy, collaboration, sharing of best practices and applied research. The project is advanced by the Taskforce for Women’s Business Growth, a national and non–partisan consortium of prominent women business owners, small business training organizations, academics and industry associations.
We are posting this to our website to invite you to endorse the Blueprint’s Action Strategy. To do so, please review the project information and ‘sign’ or complete the endorsement form located at www.telfer.uOttawa.ca/womensenterprise.
There are no fees or anticipated personal benefits associated with the endorsement. The list of project supporters will be shared with relevant federal and provincial agencies. Your endorsement will help to ensure that government agencies, at all levels, focus on policies and programs that support the economic health and well–being of women–owned enterprises. Finally, the form invites you to share your own ideas about strategies to grow women’s enterprises.
Centre Hosts High-Tech Industry Veteran
On Friday, May 7, the Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba hosted Silicon Valley success story,
Cheryl Shavers.
A 25-year veteran of the high-tech industry with Fortune 500 companies such as Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola, Dr. Shavers was the first female African American Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology of the United States government. She was the highest-ranking technologist in the Clinton Administration and is one of the most influential woman in the world of technology today.
| Sandra Altner, CEO, Women's Enteprise Centre of Manitoba and Dr. Cheryl Shavers |
WEC Celebrates WEConnect Canada Program Launch
On April 20, the Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba hosted a breakfast to celebrate the launch in Manitoba of the WEConnect program. Betty Wood, head of Certification and Training for WEConnect Canada, introduced the program to a gathering of Centre clients, staff, and interested parties.
WEConnect is a non-profit organization that qualifies firms that are at least 51% women owned and helps to connect these businesses with corporate and public sector demand for diversity suppliers.
Built on a successful US model that has been functioning for 13 years, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), WEConnect Canada began its operations a year ago March. It is affiliated with WEConnect International and is supported by women’s business service organizations throughout Canada.
If you are a growth oriented business that is 51% owned and managed by a woman or women, WEConnect can help to connect your company with the many corporate and government procurement offices that support diversity supply. Whether you manufacture widgets or provide consulting services, WEConnect certification can open the door to new markets and networks that can be of major benefit to your company.
The Women’s Enterprise Initiatives across the west support WEConnect and its aims and will be the organizations that will, each in their own region, provide the assessments
that lead to certification. In addition, our organizations will provide the supports for growth that will enable many woman-owned companies to grow their capacity to serve these larger markets.
For more information about WEConnect, check out their web page at www.weconnectcanada.org or contact Betty Wood at bwood@WEConnectCanada.org
From left to right: Betty Wood, WEConnect Canada, Margaret Hughes, Best Cooking Pulses Inc, Sandra Altner, CEO, Women's Enteprise Centre of Manitoba |
Fairness for the Self-Employed Act
On December 15, 2009, Bill C-56, Fairness for the Self-Employed Act received Royal Assent. The Bill amended the Employment Insurance Act to provide access to maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits to self-employed people, who choose to register for access to Employment Insurance Benefits for Self-Employed People.
As of January 31, 2010, self-employed people can register for access to EI Special Benefits.
The four types of special benefits are:
- Maternity benefits;
- Parental benefits;
- Sickness benefits; and,
- Compassionate care benefits.
Register by April 1, 2010 and be eligible to apply for benefits as early as January 1, 2011. A waiting period of 12 months before applying for benefits will occur if registered after April 1, 2010.
