CANADA NEWS RELEASE: Federal Government Announces New Support for Women Entrepreneurs With Disabilities

With this federal investment, Eviance will develop a strategy to promote opportunities and resources for women entrepreneurs with disabilities across Canada through community engagement, including focus groups and interviews. By collaborating with women with disabilities, the project will foster inclusive entrepreneurship and contribute to sustained economic security and prosperity. The project activities, led by Eviance in partnership with New Power Labs, will engage women entrepreneurs with disabilities to identify key issues and help shape solutions that create more equitable opportunities for success.

Investments, such as the Eviance project, create opportunities for all women with disabilities to achieve their full potential and contribute to building strong and resilient communities in Canada. Through its programs, Women and Gender Equality Canada continues to support projects that address systemic barriers to women’s equality in Canadian society.

Quick facts

• In 2024, half (50.4%) of persons with disabilities participated in the labour force.
• The 2024 Statistics Canada’s Survey Series on Accessibility (SSA) found that nearly three in five (59%) persons with disabilities or long-term conditions faced barriers to participation in the labour market. These included barriers encountered in the workplace, during hiring processes, or situations where a condition discouraged or prevented them from working.
• Women business owners with disabilities earned significantly less than their counterparts without disabilities, with median incomes ranging from 71% to 74.2% of those of women business owners without disabilities.
• Eviance was selected as a funding recipient through WAGE’s invitational call for proposals in December 2024, which focused on advancing economic security, prosperity, and leadership opportunities for women and girls with disabilities—consistent with the objectives of Budget 2023 investments in the Women’s Program.

Additional Resources

• Eviance
• Women and Gender Equality Canada
• Women’s Program
• Facts, stats, and impact: Gender equality
• Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub

Contacts

Chris Zhou  
Director of Communications  Office of the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
343-551-0457
Chris.Zhou@fegc-wage.gc.ca

Media Relations  
Women and Gender Equality Canada
819-420-6530
media@fegc-wage.gc.ca

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