Status of Women committee  There are a couple of things. I want to say something that I'm sure all of you are thinking about, which is, of course, that one of the most important things that this government can do is pass the national disability benefit to lift as many women and girls as possible out of poverty.

Status of Women committee  I'm going to say yes. I'm not going to say it as a simple answer, but the answer would be yes. We need that first.

Status of Women committee  Just call me Bonnie, Leah.

Status of Women committee  It's almost a redundant question, even from your perspective, Leah, because that's exactly the point. In terms of agency and in terms of lots of the situations that put women with disabilities at risk regarding agency, I think that's important to understand. Again, a human rights framework is an equity framework.

Status of Women committee  In Quebec, as you know, the population is now referred to as “femmes en situation de handicap” in French. The term denotes the fact that the disability is the result of unfortunate circumstances or something that's missing in the woman's community or surroundings. The French expression “en situation de handicap” is a better way to describe us, and it's too bad that it doesn't translate.

Status of Women committee  Yes, it's better. Coming back to your question, I can tell you there wasn't a single cent spent on women and girls with disabilities. The DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada is not represented in any of those 42 projects; nor was it invited to apply for funding. It's not one of the groups that received funding.

Status of Women committee  Did you want to hear from me as well?

Status of Women committee  I would like to say there's an important distinction between a sex worker and somebody who is trafficked. I know of people and in fact have friends who are women with disabilities who are sex workers, and there is an important distinction. While it's a nice thing to say, “It's all over here,” it isn't that simple.

Status of Women committee  But they aren't being provided, Madam.

Status of Women committee  Yes, I agree.

Status of Women committee  Actually, Marc, if you'll let me, I'll read something that was from the last part of what I was going to say, because I think it helps to speak to this. The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking names isolation, poverty, homelessness, language barriers—i.e. communication barriers—and being unaware of your rights as risk factors for exploitation.

Status of Women committee  Yes. I'll say again... You heard me speaking about the community impact statement we created specifically for the judicial system. That is because, whether or not the laws are in place, over and over again DAWN Canada has found itself at the Supreme Court speaking to judges because, in instances of women and girls with disabilities, we find they are not believed as witnesses.

Status of Women committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. It's nice to see everybody. I'm sorry I couldn't join you in person today. Girls, women and gender-diverse people with disabilities are vulnerable targets of human trafficking. I'll remind the committee that we submitted a brief that I hope has been circulated by now.