Good.
We must stop minimizing the need to fight against discrimination against women, assuming that systematic discrimination against women is a thing of the past and that it only remains to help those who are weaker and less well fit to cope with their problems, as some people still believe.
To facilitate women's involvement in Canadian society, as is stated in the mandate of the Women's Program, cannot be done simply by offering direct services to women with problems, but also by changing the structures that govern this society.
We have handed out a table which provides a breakdown of funds for the Women's Program. You will note that these amounts are considerable, and changes to eligibility criteria may lead to a 13 to 40% decrease in funding.
In conclusion, the actions taken by the Réseau des tables régionales des groupes de femmes du Québec has an impact on improving the living conditions in our areas. Nonetheless, we do not provide direct services to women. We carry their voices, defend and assert their rights, and encourage federal and provincial governments, municipal administrations to change their systems, which failed to include women in the past.
We ask you to not force us to take a step back, and have to resort to creative semantics so that we can receive the critical funding needed to run a participatory democracy such as ours. We are not lobbyists; we are simply a women's rights collective and work to achieve greater social justice.
Thank you.