I'd like to bring the meeting to order.
Members of the committee, what I'd like to do is read the following, so that the focus of the witnesses and of the committee will be one and the same:
At its meeting on 30 May 2006, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women adopted a motion to undertake a study of the economic security of senior women, including an exploration of income-splitting and caregiving.
The committee has heard that women earn less than men and experience higher levels of low income than men, including during their senior years. What the members have agreed is to discuss a wide range of factors, including the economic costs incurred by women, women's disproportionate share of non-standard work, lack of education, and awareness of the long-term implications.
We would like to study public policy options that could support a greater choice for women, in terms of choosing to engage in paid work or to spend more time in unpaid caregiving work.
Today we have before us as witnesses, from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Ms. Monica Townson; from the Department of Human Resources and Social Development, Ms. Glover and Ms. Poter; and from Stats Canada, Mr. Lindsay, Ms. Michaud, and Mr. Stone.
I'm told by the clerk that she has advised each group—i.e., the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Department of Human Resources and Social Development, and Stats Canada—that you have ten minutes of presentation per group. How you divide the time is up to you. I am a very strict clock-watcher. I will give you ten minutes and will give a sign, and we will ask that you stop after ten minutes.
We would like to keep it a very interactive session. Members will be given opportunities to ask questions for seven minutes, and if they interrupt you, it's because you have not answered their question.
With that, I'd like to start off with Ms. Townson, for ten minutes.