Executive Council
November 15, 2016

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Cathy Bennett, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women:

Provincial Government Commends Women's Economic Forum

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to commend the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE) for their Women's Economic Forum. The forum, entitled Drivers of Growth - Unleashing the Economic Power of Women, which includes a number of sessions being held across the province, provides an opportunity for women in business to explore the challenges and successes of advancing in business.

Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure of addressing the forum that took place in St. John's this morning. It was a great opportunity for business leaders to come together and share their knowledge and expertise. It is important that we can collectively identify the barriers for women in business and the opportunities so that everyone can learn from each other.

I commend NLOWE for the important role they are planning in supporting women entrepreneurs. As NLOWE points out, we all need to work together to tap into the economic potential of the fastest growing economic force in the world - the untapped potential of the female population.

Our government takes gender equity and diversity very seriously. We encourage women, and all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, to actively participate and seek out leadership roles and to work together to support each other as we support continued economic growth for our province.

Our government is supportive of NLOWE in hosting these sessions. We look forward to working with them on the outcomes of the Drivers of Growth forums through the resulting Action Plan being released in January.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2016 11 15             2:15 p.m.