Yes, thank you.
I'd like to thank the committee for this opportunity to tell you about the experiences we've had, and what has happened in British Columbia particularly, where we're from.
One of things that haven't been mentioned here is child poverty. It's appalling that this country even discusses the words “child poverty”. Parliament promised a long time ago to eradicate child poverty. I was so hopeful, as were a good many of the people I knew, that if we eradicated child poverty, that meant there wouldn't be poor families, that they would be able to do the things we expect Canadians to be able to do. That is something I think the committee should take a really good look at.
The education part is extremely important. The better education we have, the better we can cope with the problems that are there. But it can't be that you relegate people with high education to...well, McDonald's jobs. Unfortunately, I know a couple of people who have degrees who are working in McDonald's at the age of 64. Do we want that? Is that the society we want? I believe Parliament has to take a look at it, that this committee has to advise Parliament about what kind of society we want.
Everybody who comes to a committee like this shows you the problem. We have indicated some of the problems we've encountered. We need to do better on education, as I've said, and we need better housing. And it's not just social housing, putting up a block and sticking those people in there. As Joanne mentioned, there are so many creative ways, through co-op housing, through various ways. Experiment a little. Try to figure out what will work or won't work.
We have to do something now about senior women who cannot afford to buy their medication. One of the members we had coming to our committee used to say, “I have to decide whether I can take my pills every day and not buy my groceries, or buy groceries and take my pills every second or third day.” That's not a situation we want to continue.
I would also ask that this committee continue to fund people like my group and other groups who are advocating for women. They're telling you what is a reality in this country. Please listen to them.
Thank you.