This October, as we mark Small Business Week, I want to celebrate the entrepreneurs who are the backbone of Canada’s economy. From family-run shops to innovative start-ups, small businesses are at the heart of our communities. They create jobs, spark innovation, and give life to our main streets.
As a former small business owner, I know firsthand the determination and resilience it takes to grow an idea into a business. I also know the challenges that come with it: managing cash flow, finding financing, and wearing many hats at once. That is why, in my role as Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism, I am committed to ensuring entrepreneurs have the tools and support they need to succeed.
That commitment is reflected in the steps our government is taking. We are introducing a Buy Canadian policy designed to strengthen federal procurement, support Canadian supply chains, and open new opportunities for small businesses at home. To help SMEs impacted by tariffs, we are expanding BDC loans of up to $5 million per business, creating a $5 billion Strategic Response Fund to help firms adapt, and delivering $1 billion through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative. We are also delivering a middle-class tax cut that puts more money back into Canadians’ pockets so entrepreneurs can reinvest and grow.
But lasting growth is about more than financial tools. It’s about who gets to participate. Canada cannot reach its full potential if women, youth, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and people of colour are left on the sidelines. That is why our government is breaking down barriers and expanding opportunities through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, the Black Entrepreneurship Program, Futurpreneur Canada, and the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program. When more voices are included, our economy is more dynamic, innovative, and competitive. These steps reflect a core belief: Canada cannot prosper without inclusive growth, and when small businesses thrive, Canada thrives. And that success starts with you.
To Canada’s entrepreneurs: thank you for your vision, your perseverance, and your leadership. You are not only building businesses, you are building Canada’s future.
Happy Small Business Week!
Honourable Rechie Valdez
Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
The Honourable Rechie Valdez was appointed Minister of Women and Gender Equality and
Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) in May 2025. She is the Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Streetsville.
Minister Valdez brings diverse experience in business, community leadership, and public service to her role. Before entering politics, Minister Valdez worked in corporate banking for over a decade, ran a small baking business, and hosted and produced a national television show. She has been a vocal advocate for women entrepreneurs, youth engagement, and the celebration of cultural diversity in Canada.
