I call the meeting to order. This is the seventh meeting of our Standing Committee on the Status of Women. We are very pleased to welcome several people from the Department of Social Development who are with us today.
We have Susan Scotti, Assistant Deputy Minister, Social Development Sectors; Deborah Tunis, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Social Policy; Lenore Duff; Sandra Harder; Mitch Bloom; Caroline Weber; and Nancy Lawand.
Since we have all of you here, as well as the majority of our committee, thank you very much for agreeing to come and talk about an issue that's extremely important to all of us on this committee.
I would now welcome you and invite you to address the committee.