Thank you, Madam Chair.
First, please allow me to welcome you to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. You spoke to us about child poverty. If there are poor children, then it is logical to assume that there are poor parents as well. Generally speaking, women are more likely to be living in precarious financial circumstances.
Many women are single parents. In 2001, the poverty rate among single mothers under the age of 65 was 42%, compared to 19% for single fathers and 9.5% for married couples with children. It is extremely difficult for single mothers to save money. The problem is even worse among aboriginal single mothers and those who were not born here.
Is the current government doing enough to devise measures or create policies that would enhance their financial security? In providing a taxable universal child care allowance, is the government doing enough to improve the precarious financial situation of a large number of households, including single-parent families?