Let me start by also showing a sign of respect. You started by signalling the importance of being respectful. I agree. I share with you the view that the more respect we show to each other, the better the chance that we'll work appropriately together, and the better the chance that we'll make this important forum very useful for our respective mandates. I certainly hope to be able to count on this committee in the forthcoming work and to draw guidance and support from you, whatever position we happen to have in this particular Parliament.
On the issue of seniors and Service Canada, you haven't asked a question. You've made a comment. I can certainly say that it's a very important aspect of my mandate, and I have some very good officials around me who would love to manifest the types of ambitions and the types of circumstances we have in mind at this particular time.
More than 70% of seniors living in poverty now are single. Among that 70% of single seniors living in poverty, more than 70% are women. For that particular reason, we have chosen to address the issues faced by those single vulnerable seniors, because more of them are currently living in poverty. There's also, in most cases, a greater situation of vulnerability because they don't have a spouse on whom they can rely or with whom they can collaborate. Both the economic and the social vulnerabilities of these single seniors—again, the majority of whom are female—happen to be quite large. We have heard that over the last year. We heard that in the campaign. That's why we have committed to assisting them in the budget.