Thank you, Madam Chair and members of the committee.
I appear before you today on behalf of the Réseau des tables régionales des groupes de femmes du Québec. This network comprises 432 member groups and 241 individual members working under 17 coordinating committees.
We are a women's rights collective that addresses women's interests and rights issues. Its role is to act as a liaison between the round tables and various levels of government and decision makers. I have come here today to talk to you about the reality that the women's network faces on the ground.
Over the years, members of the Réseau des tables have mobilized around the maintenance and development of Quebec structures in support of women such as the Secrétariat à la condition féminine and the Conseil du statut de la femme. In addition, we demand the establishment of a comprehensive policy and action plan for the status of women as well as the funding to implement them.
As you know, certain structures have remained in place. Last December, we produced a policy paper entitled “Equality Rights: Turning Theory into Practice”.
Therefore, we are here to add our voices to those of our sisters, and stand opposed to weakening Status of Women in Canada by weakening its actions and funding.
The Réseau des tables is also very concerned about women's place in the corridors of power. We urge the establishment of a proportional representation system along with specific measures to encourage the election of women candidates to the National Assembly. We would like this reform to take place at the federal level as well.
Political representation of women is 31.2 per cent in the National Assembly of Quebec, and 12 per cent of mayors and 25 per cent of councillors in Quebec municipalities are women—a level of underrepresentation that is still cause for discussion. Given that the Canadian Federation of Municipalities has set a target of 30 per cent female representation by 2030, one can definitely say that there's still work to be done.
In addition, we are also concerned over fair representation of women within regional development bodies. These regional development bodies, also known as regional conferences, have representation made up of only 20 per cent of women. Very few of these conferences use gender-based analyses to determine whether or not projects meet the needs of women and men fairly.
The Réseau des tables is also greatly concerned over the health and well-being of women. The network would also like to ensure adherence to ministerial objectives and action strategies for the regions.
Recent structural upheavals have left a democratic vacuum. Therefore, we are here to make sure that women's needs are being heard.
In recent years, the Women's Program has always been an important source of funds for the regional round tables. However, recent changes to the program's eligibility criteria and funding conditions are incompatible with the defence of women's rights. In fact, national actions that aim to defend rights and influence the federal and provincial governments have been excluded from this funding.
The mission of both the regional round tables and the Réseau des tables is to defend the fundamental rights of women, and our actions centre on advocacy and influence.