Thank you, Mr. Chairperson, and thank you to all of our presenters for some very useful information this afternoon.
I think I'll begin with Mary-Martha Hale on the housing issue, because in fact I think you've identified something that is at the very heart of building a healthy society that can be competitive internationally. I think we all know the importance of putting money into housing, but what we're facing right now is in fact the possibility of a government that's not putting money into housing and is, at the same time, planning to take money out of housing and homelessness programs.
We all had a scare this summer when letters went out to these groups that were supported under SCPI, and but for a huge outcry and press conferences, we would probably have seen the death of very important programs that help deal with issues pertaining to secure housing, mental health issues, and helping women access whatever little day care there is. My question is, what can we do as a committee to both stop that hemorrhaging and do the necessary increases to provide housing for the some 1.5 million Canadians who don't have access to affordable housing?
Maybe I didn't ask the right person.
Marion.