Native Women's Association of Canada Website

WESTERN ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION CANADA1.0 WESTERN ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION CANADA1.1 Department Overview:Since its establishment in 1987, Western Economic Diversification Canada's (WD)mandate has been to promote the development and diversification of the economy ofWestern Canada and to advance the interests of the West in national economic policy.Instead of providing direct financial assistance to individual companies, WD is involvedin several new innovative partnerships with both the public and private sectors toaddress the information and financing needs of small and medium-size businesses inWestern Canada.Working in cooperation with industry associations, financial institutions and the fourwestern provinces, WD is working to address the needs of small business and businessservices. Resources are strategically targeted to industries having the greatest potentialfor growth and that support the federal government's Jobs and Growth Strategy.To achieve its mandate in Western Canada, WD focuses its efforts in four key areas ofactivity:1. Capital Services - Helping small businesses in “new economy” sectors access WDsponsoredloan programs; providing information on alternative sources of industrysectors: biotechnology; health; information technology and telecommunications;environmental technology; advanced materials and advance manufacturing technology;knowledge-based industries; agricultural value-added processing; and tourism.2. Western Business Service Network - Creating a “single-window” source ofinformation for small businesses in the West. In partnership with other business serviceorganizations, WD's programs and services are now accessible on over 100 points ofservice in rural and urban centres of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, andManitoba. This Western Business Service Network includes Community FuturesDevelopment Corporations, Women's Enterprise Initiatives, Canada Business ServiceCentres, and WD offices throughout Western Canada.3. Business Services - Enhancing supplier development programs to help smallbusiness sell to government markets; advocating at the national level on behalf ofwestern businesses; simplifying and streamlining regulations affecting small business;and consolidating the delivery of trade and export support programs.4. Alliances - Helping established industry alliances to enhance the competitivenessand growth of industries vital to Western Canada, promoting community economicdevelopment in rural areas through Community Futures Development Corporationsand urban centres through urban development initiatives; and developing new privatePg. 255