I'll speak because Quebec Native Women is part of the board. I know there are challenges in regard to how the funding flows, and cabinet has to decide when and if that money does flow. There was no clear indication or detail on whether that $10 million was for organizations across Canada to access or whether that $10 million...I think it's over two years--I can't remember the details of the Speech from the Throne.
The importance of research is that no policies, programs, or even legislation are created without statistics and research. It's important for us to continue that, especially given the challenges the Sisters In Spirit research program has experienced, with some of the authorities being very reticent to divulge certain statistics or details. We have to overcome some of those hurdles. But at the same time, I think there needs to be more education. It's a lot of money.
You have communities that have been under a funding cap since I think 1996. When they see that, they think okay, let's go, and they end up fighting. I think a bit of it is a political kind of issue. Does AFN get it? Does NFCP get it? But I'm just assuming...so I really couldn't say.
We support the Sisters In Spirit research. I think our only critique is that there is not enough done in this province because they don't have francophone researchers. That's something we would like to see.