Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thanks to all of you for taking the time to attend today. I have to say that it's a great honour to participate on this standing committee, especially dealing with the kinds of issues we deal with here.
As I listened to your presentations this afternoon, I couldn't help but be struck by the fact that while you concluded by saying that these savings or measures that the government has proposed should be reversed, as I listened to you describe the kind of programs you in fact engage in on behalf of women, and then I look at the actual terms and conditions that the government currently provides for program funding under the women's program--Sisters in Spirit, of course, is added to that--the government has given strong signals that there in fact will be more dollars coming for programs that give direct support to women in their communities.
When I look at the actual design of the program and at what the women's program funds, which is essentially focused on supporting women in the areas of achieving full participation in economic, social, and cultural aspects of women in Canada, these to me are very specific things that speak right to the heart of the issues, as you mentioned, around equality.
There was some discussion about advocacy as well. While I appreciate the point, I consider that as you go ahead and as you look at these new terms and conditions, and considering that there is in fact perhaps even an increasing pool of dollars that will be available to get these kinds of programs expressly to women, have you considered how you could adapt your program proposals in a way that would essentially meet these program requirements or mandates? And would you not agree that these would be programs that would give direct benefit to women? Certainly there's a tremendous amount of wisdom here, and experience, in dealing with these issues.
I'm sorry my preamble took so long. I'll just leave it at that. If each of you could give a brief response, I would greatly appreciate it. Perhaps you would speak to the question of why these programs wouldn't in fact be very effective for women in their communities.