Minister of Status of Women discusses the importance of female entrepreneurs with UOIT students

Dr. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Status of Women, Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament (MP) for Simcoe-Grey, joined faculty, staff and students from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) on March 19 to discuss the importance of women entrepreneurs in starting their own businesses or choosing non-traditional careers.

In a roundtable discussion with professors and students from the faculties of Business and Information Technology, Education, Engineering and Applied Science, Social Science and Humanities and Health Sciences, Minister Leitch highlighted the significant role women play in creating and running small businesses in Canada, and contributing to economic prosperity. The discussion was hosted in a state-of-the-art Kinesiology Teaching Laboratory opened in fall 2013.

“Our Government recognizes that engaging more women in the workforce is critical to Canada’s economic success,” said Minister Leitch. “It’s crucial that we find new and innovative ways to advance more women into positions of greater economic security for themselves and their families.”

Recent studies indicate 14 per cent of Canadian small businesses are solely owned by women and more than 1.5 million Canadians are employed by women-owned businesses. 

“We were pleased to welcome Minister Leitch to the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and to have had the opportunity to discuss entrepreneurship and the important role of women in the Canadian economy,” said Susan McGovern, Vice-President, External Relations and Advancement. “UOIT contributes to Canada’s economy by strongly encouraging women to pursue careers in disciplines that relate to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).”

Minister Leitch also viewed a demonstration in the Interprofessional Centre of Excellence in Simulation, profiling the leadership of the UOIT-Durham College Nursing Program in the advanced development and implementation of simulation and other cutting-edge technologies for teaching-learning, research and nursing-practice innovation.