Status of Women committee  The $1 million in total goes directly to the Native Women's Association of Canada, the role of which is to do research to assess the scope and causes of the problem of missing women and violence against Aboriginal women. These are truly race-based studies.

Status of Women committee  No. The money is also used to conduct an awareness campaign for government, individuals, and groups that are doing research on violence, as well police services throughout the country, to make them aware of the specific dimensions these women face. It is also used to influence and guide governments so that their policies do a better job of meeting the needs of Aboriginal women.

Status of Women committee  Absolutely.

Status of Women committee  There has been no change in the budget. In 2000, the government provided Status of Women Canada with funding to undertake certain projects and to take part in the Women's Program. Today, that would represent an annual increase of $2.5 million compared to 1999.

Status of Women committee  You can ask the minister about that. Forty-four per cent of our budget is already earmarked for women's groups and groups that promote gender equality. That is a lot of money.

Status of Women committee  A percentage goes to management and operations. Moreover, 5% of our budget goes to contributions for employee benefit programs. There are some administrative issues that are inherent and that are part of all budgets, which means that the amounts don't add up as clearly as we would like them to.

Status of Women committee  I can tell you exactly where we are at. The total budget for Status of Women Canada is $24.6 million for 2006-07. Research represents 5% of the budget. Subsidies represent 44% of the budget. We are a knowledge organization, if you will; I explained our various roles earlier. Therefore, we invest a substantial amount, 33%, in salaries for experts, be it for gender-based analysis, research, policy analysis, or communications.

Status of Women committee  The 44% of the $24.6 million goes directly into grants and contributions for equality-seeking organizations. Program administration is included in the salaries and operations. So 44% goes directly into grants.

Status of Women committee  There was an increase of about $1 million. It was an amount that was transferred to Status of Women Canada to coordinate the Sisters in Spirit Initiative, an organization for missing Aboriginal women. As part of this project, Status of Women Canada will receive $1 million per year, for five years, and it started last year.

Status of Women committee  My understanding, and Hélène Dwyer-Renaud can give you more information on this, is that the Department of Finance did gender-based analysis on one measure in the budget, a tax measure. On the questions that you asked related to the $1,200 that will go directly to families and other measures, I think that question would be better asked of the department responsible for those policies.

Status of Women committee  I will ask Hélène Dwyer-Renaud to explain to the committee how the whole question of gender analysis is dealt with within the government. I mentioned specifically in my remarks the work that we were doing following the report of this committee with the cental agencies, but Hélène will be able to give you a better idea of how it works throughout the government as a whole.

Status of Women committee  Five on migration will be released in the coming months, possibly into next year. The others are under way. At times they take less time; at times they take a little longer. We could provide ballpark information to the committee members on the projects that are currently under way to give you an idea of when to expect some of these publications.

Status of Women committee  The government is studying the report at the present time. As I said earlier, the recommendations and conclusions of the report were tabled in the House last November.

Status of Women committee  Thank you very much, Madame Chair. It's an honour to appear before the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. I'd like to point out that I will be making short remarks that are derived from the long version that has been distributed to the members of the committee. It's really gratifying that Parliament has continued its commitment to the work of the status of women and gender equality.