To ensure full and equal participation of women in the economy, the Canada Government is advancing women's economic empowerment with the first-ever Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) in 2018, a $2-billion investment that seeks to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025. Only 16% of Canadian businesses are owned or led currently by women, and studies show that by advancing women's economic participation in the Canadian economy could add up to $150 billion in GDP. 

WES is a whole-of-government approach to helping women grow their businesses through access to financing, talent, networks, and expertise. The main initiatives are as following:

 Women Entrepreneurship Fund: in Budget 2018, the Government of Canada allocated $20 million to the Women Entrepreneurship Fund to fund over 200 projects. Due to the strong demand for Women Entrepreneurship Fund support, an additional $10-million investment was made to fund approximately 100 more applicants. The main initiatives are as the following investment made to fund approximately 100 more applicants, $2.5 million of which was for Indigenous women entrepreneurs. With this additional investment, the Government is now providing a total of $30 million to women-owned and led businesses across Canada to grow and reach new markets. The fund mainly focuses on supporting the pursuit of market opportunities abroad and company scale-up, expansion, and growth.

 WES Ecosystem Fund: in Budget 2018, the Government of Canada allocated $85 million to the WES Ecosystem Fund to strengthen capacity within the entrepreneurship ecosystem and close gaps in service for women entrepreneurs. Over 50 projects were funded through this initiative. These projects are led by non-profit organizations and are inclusive of the needs of diverse and under-represented women. Funded activities include: supplier diversity activities that target women entrepreneurs; initiatives to support women in traditionally underrepresented sectors; networking, matchmaking, and mentorship opportunities; incubator and accelerator programs; initiatives to support the participation of diverse and underrepresented women in entrepreneurship; efforts to scale up programs that support women entrepreneurs across regions and on a national basis; and other activities that will support the objectives of the WES Ecosystem Fund. Funding was available through two streams: National/Multi-Regional Stream and Regional Stream.

 Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH): The Government of Canada is funding the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, a one-stop resource of knowledge, data, and best practices for women entrepreneurs. Through a competitive process, the Government of Canada has awarded Ryerson University, located in Toronto, Ontario, up to $8.62 million over three years to establish the Hub. National in scope, WEKH will be made up of nine regional hubs, which will work together to coordinate activities in different regions. Each of the regional hubs brings its unique area of expertise and specialization to the Hub. The Hubs activities will include collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information, advancing research on women's entrepreneurship; supporting and sharing the best practices and knowledge among women business support organizations; generating the reports on the progress of women entrepreneurs in Canada, including a measure or review of the entrepreneurship ecosystem supports for women in Canada.

 WES Expert Panel: The Government of Canada has assembled diverse and talented Canadians to be members of an Expert Panel. The Panel is comprised of experts from the private sector and civil society from across the country, with significant experience, expertise, and knowledge in a range of disciplines. Members from backgrounds that include entrepreneurs (in various sectors), financial experts, mentors and academics. Members of the panel act on a part-time, volunteer basis. To avoid potential conflicts of interest, the Canadian government sought expressions of interest from diverse and talented Canadians through a public application process.