My question is for Ontario’s Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity.

Women entrepreneurs are an integral part of Ontario’s economy, accounting for nearly 20% of all small and medium-sized businesses in Ontario—and I’m very proud to consider that my mother, Lesley, is one of that 20%. Speaker, 20% is a big number, but I think all members of the House could agree that that number could be quite a bit higher.

The reality is that women continue to encounter social and economic barriers when it comes to starting and growing their businesses. While recent numbers show that there is an increase in overall employment for women, more must be done to increase opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

Could the minister please explain what actions our government is taking to unlock even more economic opportunities for women?

There are over 370,000 jobs that are going unfilled in the skilled trades today, with one in three journeypersons over the age of 55, and many of them are heading towards retirement. Over the next decade, Ontario will need 100,000 workers in the construction sector alone to meet this growing demand.

The unfortunate reality is that women currently account for only 5% of the skilled trades workforce. Our government must act now to ensure that we address the labour shortage and help more women to pursue these in-demand, rewarding and well-paying careers.

Building a stronger Ontario means that we need more workers to help grow our businesses, our communities, and our economy.

Could the minister please explain how our government is expanding opportunities for women to pursue careers in the skilled trades?