Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'd like to point out that the minister was here last week. She clearly stated that women have had 25 years to do advocacy work and women can still do advocacy work without the funding.
We all know there has been a change in the mandate of the women's program, with the removal of the word “equality” and our advocacy work no longer being funded. I am still trying to understand this. I have not come to a rational reason for why they would remove the word “equality” and prevent advocacy work. There is so much work to be done on behalf of women and on improving the quality of life for women. It's only through research and advocacy work that you can bring about changes.
What I'm interested in hearing from you is more about the future. With this change in the mandate, the inability to do the research and the removal of the word “equality”, how is that going to directly have an impact on your organizations? Are there any programs on the table or any future plans that you had to grow your organization that will be compromised, or off the table, or you will no longer be able to do them?