Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'd like to thank all the witnesses for appearing today.
Primarily, I have questions for you, Ms. Clément. I hope you can help me.
I am concerned about the funding of a lot of the projects that Status of Women gets involved in. Specifically, we've heard from groups across the country that the funding is erratic and that it tends to be at the last minute if they do hear that funding is being extended. In other words, sometimes on a Friday they don't know whether they can open the door on Monday.
I understand that we have financial challenges right now in the country that we're trying to meet, but two weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the Ghosts of Violence ballet, which had been provided $317,000 by Status of Women. It was a beautiful production--and don't get me wrong, I'm a patron of the arts--but that said, I was certainly left wondering whether that was a good use of our resources. Quite frankly, the point was missed, and not only by me. I was there for opening night and didn't hear one comment about the content and the message it was trying to drive home.
I guess I have a concern about how the money is prioritized. Are you, for instance, asked for your feedback? Quite frankly, to see groups like Sisters in Spirit have their funding cut, in favour of something that in my mind was clearly a Heritage Canada issue, had me a little concerned.