Research groups have certainly influenced project priorities and will continue to do so. In 2005, we initiated a fairly broad consultative process. We consulted with women's groups across Canada. Information on this subject is available on our website. One of the recommendations made by women's groups called for the development of indicators. These groups trusted Status of Women Canada to undertake this project. And that is what we are doing.
There is nothing mystical about these indicators. They were not conjured up out of thin air. They are truly a reflection of a world-wide trend. Commonwealth nation indicators are similar to ours. They embrace the same themes, domains and issues.
I believe the next step in the indicator project will be to ask civil society for its opinion on the aims and choice of indicators. Here again, this is a question for Ms. Beckton, not for the researcher.