Thank you.
While our government has made progress in enhancing women's participation on a wide range of issues by developing supportive policies and measures to address critical challenges and by providing the resources to help deal with them, we know that there is much more work to be done.
I have been meeting with Canadians from coast to coast to coast to engage women in particular on how best to promote economic security and prosperity for women, on what they think is the best way to approach ending violence against women, and how they think we can encourage more women to be involved in the democratic process and in key leadership roles.
Our government is working to deliver real results to Canadians by advancing women's full participation. We are acting to advance the goal of empowering women across Canada, as strong women make a strong Canada.
In these times of economic uncertainty, the Government of Canada continues to work to advance equality for women in all aspects of Canadian life. We recognize that women's skill sets, their leadership, and their expertise must be fully utilized if Canada is to maintain its high standard of living and to compete successfully on the global stage.
Our government responded to the economic downturn by introducing our economic action plan, a plan to stimulate the economy, maintain and create jobs for Canadian women and men, and protect those hardest hit by the recession.
The Fourth Report to Canadians presented by our Finance Minister yesterday has shown that 97% of the stimulus funding in Canada's plan has been committed to more than 12,000 infrastructure and housing projects. About 8,000 or 66% of these projects have already begun in the 10 months since the two-year plan was launched.
Some of the progress made in implementing the economic action plan includes reducing the tax burden for Canadian families and businesses by more than $20 billion over 2008-09 and the following five fiscal years; supporting those Canadian workers who have lost their jobs or may face layoffs through additional employment insurance benefits and training opportunities; and creating and preserving jobs through investment in modern infrastructure and affordable housing; supporting research and advanced education by funding much-needed maintenance, repair, and construction projects at colleges and universities across Canada; protecting jobs and industries in communities hit hardest by the recession; and taking unprecedented action to improve the availability of finance for households and businesses in Canada.
Our efforts are having a positive effect. The IMF expects Canada's recovery to be the strongest in the G-7, laying the foundations for the future prosperity of women and men in Canadian society.
I want to assure you that our government will continue to invest in projects that touch women directly and impact their lives in key areas.
Thank you, Madam Chair.