Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I feel compelled to explain to you what just went on because I'm really saddened when we have terrific witnesses like we have today, and then some sort of procedural snag is thrown in the middle that takes away from our time with you. I want to apologize and tell you that it was not our intention and we're very happy to have you back.
Many of us here today on both sides have a lot invested in trying to keep women safe. You heard a bit from Wai and from some of the others about the work they've done.
My mom started one of the first women's shelters in Alberta. I was a founding member of a sexual assault centre. We've all worked on these problems, and I understand the frustration that I hear in your voices because it is a very tough job. It's a burnout job, and we see the cycle of violence continuing. That's what we started talking about back in the seventies when my mom started shelters: how do we end that cycle of violence?
I think that's what we're here for today. We can talk about lots of other things. We know the problems exist. We know they're really tough to deal with on a daily basis, but what we're really trying to get at is—and several of you mentioned this and I love the fact that you see this—that we need to find ways to be able to change the channel on violence against women.
That's why we're looking for best practices today.
I was really interested, Lynn, to hear about the dog program that you briefly talked about and the aboriginal women's program and the tools that are being used, the danger assessment tool, in Alberta. I hope I can go through the three of you and have you....
Lynn, could you talk more about the dog program so we can hear what some of these best practices are because I think Sharlene and Lise both mentioned that we have all these programs out here. Some of them have their funding renewed and some of them don't, and often it's because we don't know what's working and it's very hard for people to assess where the money should go.
Today we're trying to find the cream so we know when these programs come up which ones you recommend that are really cutting edge, that are changing the channel, and we can start to have real progress in the areas you find are working.
Lynn, could I start with you, please, and then go to Sharlene and Lise. Thank you all very much for your contributions.