The President of the Business and Professional Women of Saskatoon says progress is being made for women entrepreneurs but there is still a long way to go. Krista Martens is encouraged by the open discussion during Monday’s round-table talks with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Status of Women. Martins’ stresses there are still many barriers facing women in business. She says financing is the biggest obstacle because of the gender bias in the banking industry. Martens feels balancing child care with work responsibilities is another. Pay equity was another major topic. Parliamentary Secretary Terry Duguid believes the government’s pay equity legislation is an example of leadership on the issue. He says the bill involving government employees and workers in federally regulated industries would affect over 2-million workers and circulate about $92-million through the economy. Duguid says the government is also establishing a department of Women and Gender Equality. The Winnipeg area M-P also pointed out almost half of all corporate boards have no women and claims companies who have women in the boardroom perform better. Martens says their group has launched a women on boards portal hoping to increase representation in the public and private sectors.