Minister, I'm looking at the new version of the Women's Program. From now on, it will be limited to achieving women's full participation in the economic, social and cultural life of Canada.
You clearly believe that it is no longer necessary to facilitate the participation of women's groups in the process of developing Government policy and improving the public's understanding of issues related to women's equality; that it is no longer necessary to promote the development of policies and programs in key institutions that reflect the different impacts they can have on women; and that it is no longer necessary to help women's groups work more effectively to improve the status of women.
Probably because of your Conservative ideology to the effect that all women are strong, you likely believe that there are no longer any differences, that there aren't weak women out there anymore and that there is no systemic discrimination against women. You say that they can assert their rights using a tool called the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In other words, you are telling women that they are basically on their own.
Do you realize that you are depriving an organization such as the Fédération des femmes du Québec of the power to advocate for women and defend women's rights?