As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada support the growth and expansion of women entrepreneurs’ businesses by:

• continuing to invest in the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy and increasing awareness of the Strategy’s supports and programs for women entrepreneurs;
• ensuring that women entrepreneurs are meaningfully included and consulted in the development and implementation of federal supports targeting them;
• identifying and removing regulatory barriers that disproportionally affect women entrepreneurs, including racialized women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs who are members of the Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other diverse gender and sexual identity communities; and
• improving women entrepreneurs’ access to new markets, as well as international trade and export opportunities.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada ensure that policy makers always conduct a gender-based analysis and early consultations with Indigenous peoples when enacting policy that disproportionately impacts women-owned businesses.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada, respecting the jurisdiction of, and in consultation and collaboration with, provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples and through partnerships between relevant federal departments and agencies and financial institutions, implement measures ensuring women entrepreneurs’ equitable access to capital and financial support in Canada, such as providing low-interest loans, identifying grants and venture capital specifically for women-owned businesses, and flexibility in requirements for credit checks in loan and grant applications.

Recommendation 4

That the government of Canada, respecting the jurisdiction of, and in consultation with, provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples, promote awareness of resources available through Business Development Bank of Canada for women entrepreneurs.

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada ensure that Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-based Violence includes initiatives that facilitate survivors’ access to entrepreneurship-related resources and supports as well as their access to flexible business financing options, so that they are empowered to pursue entrepreneurship if they wish to do so.

Recommendation 6

That the Government of Canada, respecting the jurisdiction of, and in consultation and collaboration with, provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples, bolster women’s economic empowerment and participation in the labour force, by supporting education and training initiatives, including:

• language training and other specialized employment training programs to facilitate and accelerate the credential recognition process for immigrant women;
• access to re-skilling and upskilling programs for women; and
• education campaigns or other initiatives for school-aged children, that raise awareness, and encourage pursuit, of various education and career pathways.

Recommendation 7

That the Government of Canada, respecting the jurisdiction of, and in consultation and collaboration with, provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples, adequately value the care sector by continuing to invest in affordable, flexible and inclusive child care services across Canada through the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system, and through the child care agreements between the federal and provincial or territorial governments, support the retention of employees in the child care and early childhood education sector by ensuring adequate compensation for these workers.

Recommendation 8

That the Government of Canada, respecting the jurisdiction of, and in consultation and collaboration with, provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples, continue to implement measures to reduce poverty as well as the gender pay gap in Canada, by encouraging the adoption of pay equity policies across all workplaces as well as a liveable wage, and continuing to invest in safe, accessible and affordable housing, particularly for women, and consider other poverty-reduction strategies, such as implementing a guaranteed liveable basic income.

Recommendation 9

That the Government of Canada improve awareness campaigns that promote the implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion workplace policies, with the goal of fostering gender-sensitive and inclusive workplaces that are flexible, supportive and free of harassment and discrimination.

Recommendation 10

That the Government of Canada support businesses owned by, and entrepreneurs who are, members of the Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other diverse gender and sexual identity communities, by launching an awareness campaign to combat hate, harassment and discrimination against these communities.

Recommendation 11

That the Government of Canada, respecting the jurisdiction of, and in consultation and collaboration with, provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples, expand existing federal programs, such as the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund, as well as support women entrepreneurs’ mentorship and networking opportunities by creating other formal networking and mentorship programs to enable different groups of women’s professional advancement in various fields – including racialized and immigrant women – and consider providing these program activities during paid work hours.

Recommendation 12

That the Government of Canada, respecting the jurisdiction of, and in consultation and collaboration with, provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples, expand the existing Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub to address gaps in data, and fund and support the collection of data disaggregated by gender and other identity factors, such as race, Indigeneity and disability, about women entrepreneurs, women in fields traditionally dominated by men, including skilled trades, and women in leadership at all levels, with the goal of improving policies aiming to support women pursuing these careers.