Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, and my apologies as well for arriving late. The transportation system here is leaving much to be desired today.
I have just come back from a lengthy tour with another committee, travelling primarily in western Canada on the issue of violence against aboriginal women. We certainly saw an underbelly of Canada that is not one we would be proud of.
There seems to be a very definite relationship between the apprehension of children and violence against women. Women are frequently fearful of reporting violence for the very real concern that their children will be apprehended.
Both of you have spoken about prevention and the need for support to keep the children in the home. It's such a complicated issue, but my question—to each of you, from your very different vantage points--is on what your recommendations would be in relation to supports for mothers, primarily, and children in their homes. What we heard clearly on the trip was that if a child is apprehended, a foster parent gets a significant amount of resources made available to them that a natural parent does not.
I would welcome your thoughts.