Violence Against Women  Madam Speaker, everyone has a right to live free of violence and our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by this. Our government is fully behind the address to end and support a national action plan to end gender-based violence. Our investments alone support over 1,500 organizations that deliver essential services to end gender-based violence.

National Nursing Week  Mr. Speaker, it is something we have always known, but the past year has really brought it into the spotlight: Health care professionals in this country are incredible, strong and brave people who keep our families and communities safe. Next week is National Nursing Week, a chance for us all to thank the amazing nurses in our towns who provide truly compassionate care.

Health Care Professionals  Mr. Speaker, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are no strangers to stepping up to help others in times of crisis, and this week is no different. I was so proud yesterday when I saw nine health care professionals step up and then step on a military aircraft to fly to Ontario to get to work supporting their stressed and over-worked colleagues in the Toronto University Health Network.

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, our government has supported many organizations throughout Quebec with our emergency response funding. We will continue to, and we will work with all communities from coast to coast to coast to make sure that funds for LGBTQ people get in the right areas and do the work that is needed for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his advocacy and work on this very important file. One thing I have been doing in my role, along with the minister, is having consultations from coast to coast to coast as we develop the national action plan. One of the pillars is about doing just that.

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague may or may not know, I come from a very rural riding. Its land mass is bigger than Switzerland, and it has over 200 small communities. A rural lens does need to be put on this. In my province of Newfoundland, there is supplemented day care, but it is not reaching farther afield into the really rural communities.

The Budget  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his passion. I am sure there are many female fishers involved in this. I will get an answer from the minister responsible and get back to him.

The Budget  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to be here today to discuss budget 2021, a transformative agenda that values the work of women and recognizes the contribution of women in creating a more sustainable and resilient economy. I will be sharing my time today with my colleague, the member for Surrey Centre.

Questions on the Order Paper  Mr. Speaker, in response to (a) connectivity has never been more important, and we continue to make progress in ensuring all Canadians have access to reliable high-speed Internet, no matter where they live. Since 2015, we have approved programs and projects that will connect 1.7 million Canadian households.

Women and Gender Equality  Madam Speaker, we have listened to more than 1,000 experts and advocates working to prevent and address gender-based violence across the country as we build the national action plan. We have heard all of their comments and concerns, and that will be built into the plan. With their help, we are going to reach the most affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the women experiencing GBV in B.C.

Women and Gender Equality  Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for Vancouver East for her important and continuous advocacy for survivors of gender-based violence. Gender-based violence has devastating impacts on women, children and their families. I commend the Downtown Eastside community advocates in Vancouver as they work tirelessly to provide services to women in need.

Health  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member opposite for her hard work and passion on the GBA and women's file. I would like to give her confidence that since 2018, the GBA+ lens has been put on every guiding framework for budgeting processes in Canada. It promotes equality throughout the federal budget process.

Telecommunications  Madam Speaker, I look forward to finding out. I will contact the department and get an update for the member on that and reach out to him directly. I want to assure him that we launched the universal broadband fund to provide Canadians with high-speed Internet. We accelerated our targets to connect them even faster.

Telecommunications  Madam Speaker, on behalf of all of us in the House, I would like to take this minute on International Women's Day to thank you for your leadership and support and wish you and all my female colleagues all the best. I am sure I can speak for all of us in the House on that. I am delighted to stand and chat about our government's progress in improving connectivity for all Canadians and for the member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

Women and Gender Equality  Mr. Speaker, we took swift action to help women and children fleeing violence by granting up to $100 million to women's shelters and other organizations. In Quebec, we are providing over $8 million for groups that offer shelter to women and victims of sexual assault. We provided funding to over 200 groups in Quebec, including the Montreal Sexual Assault Centre and Auberge Madeleine.