Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to follow up on the conversations. I respect the positions that have been put forward, but I think the characterization that we're heading for this massive social disconnect if this is not addressed.... We have to keep in mind that in fact right from one of the first meetings we held on this topic we heard from department officials that in fact the incidence of poverty in Canada continues to decline. There have been tremendous strides made in the last 20 to 25 years.
Among women in particular, the incidence of poverty was 16.5% in 1997, and by 2004 it was down to 11.7%. The suite of programs that the Canadian government provides and has provided and continues to build on continues to keep that incidence of poverty going down. I don't mean to belittle it, but I think to suggest that somehow we're headed to some crisis might perhaps be overstating it.