Status of Women committee  In 1992, and here we are in 2014 and nothing has been done about it. I particularly would like to see that. As a former researcher on a food security program in Nova Scotia, I would like to see that nationally as well. Let's start with the kids, and let's take it out to a broad

Status of Women committee  Yes, absolutely, that's an excellent recommendation. I would like to add that when my children, both of my daughters, were in subsidized child care, they both did get healthy breakfasts and lunches, which I counted on as a low-income, single mother.

Status of Women committee  Yes.

Status of Women committee  I believe the low-hanging fruit is the national government. It's a provincial responsibility, child care, but I believe the national government can engage the grassroots and provincial governments in child care recommendations and setting them up.

Status of Women committee  No, I would say that each province has its own characteristics that they need to address.

Status of Women committee  Yes, but there should be some federal transfer of funds to child care—

Status of Women committee  But I'd like to see it increased because I'd like to see more child care—

Status of Women committee  Yes, that came down to the CHST.

Status of Women committee  That's an excellent idea. Food security is a big topic across Canada. Too many of the breakfast programs that do exist right now are community-funded. It's organizations fighting for the same $5. They all need to be funded. I absolutely agree that we need a national breakfast p

Status of Women committee  I will wrap it up. I have a number of recommendations, but I'm not going into them right now, other than pensions and health care plans.

Status of Women committee  Well, I'm thinking of rural Nova Scotia in terms of community, as you were talking about...and I work for a women's resource centre. We have a women's group there that is doing women's entrepreneurship. But one of the problems that they are dealing with is access to pensions and

Status of Women committee  What we've been needing for decades is a national child care strategy. It lifted me out of poverty, and my daughters, and it has helped other women who have had the opportunity to have affordable subsidized child care. It's the key.

Status of Women committee  I'll be as brief as possible. Poverty is the opposite of prosperity. It is not being able to participate in the economy, in the culture, and in the democratic process. When women are in poverty, that is a huge barrier to them. On the continuum of prosperity, poverty is at the op

Status of Women committee  Good afternoon, Madam Chair, committee members, and all others present. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to share my experiences and to address this committee, and to thank you for continuing to work on the very important topic of women's leadership and prosperity