Thank you.
I mentioned that our board initially thought that any resources required or devoted to such an undertaking could really be better spent on an emergency basis in Inuit communities. They felt that if they had a choice, that would be their preference. More than 70% of women don't have a shelter, and women die as a direct result. But if it does goes forward, it's critically important to them that Inuit be consulted separately and specifically, that their true voices and priorities be heard, and then reflected in any resulting recommendations. A lot of work has been done. We know what's required; we just have to do it.
I'd like to, if I may, respond briefly to Ms. Davies's questions about funding. I can give you a very specific response. For nearly 30 years Pauktuutit worked with the Department of Canadian Heritage, developing projects under their aboriginal women's program. One stream looked at family violence, one stream looked at self-government, and I'm forgetting the third. For the first time in nearly 30 years we are not working with Canadian Heritage; the funding criteria have been changed. It now has a community focus.
Pauktuutit's role was to fill the gaps in the communities, because there just isn't the capacity in most communities to have organized women's groups writing proposals, incorporating, and receiving funding, and undertaking a project. That's where Pauktuutit has come in and played a significant role in developing resources—bilingual, plain language, or whatever—that have been of use to all the communities. We met with them several times and tried to find a potential solution. It simply was not possible. That's just as of this fiscal year.