Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague opposite.
The equitable appointment of women and men to cabinet is certainly positive, but it does not change the laws in order to give women pay equity in everyday workplaces.
Women today still make only 77% of what men make, simply because they are women. We must therefore do more than simply take an interest in the issue. We have to change the laws so that there is no more wage discrimination and so that women enjoy the same respect as men. Equal pay for equal work.
The current situation is serious. Women in distress are turning to women’s advocacy organizations, such as Centre D'Main de Femmes, which I mentioned earlier. These women say that they are feeling completely burnt out and that they are unable to make ends meet. Their children are dropping out of school because they are disheartened. This is Canada, in 2016, and it is time to buckle down and walk the talk.