Madam Minister, there appears to be very few changes in the theme that you have selected this year for International Women's Day, compared to the theme selected in 2009. The only obvious change is that you have left out the word “leadership“. It is rather disturbing to see the word “leadership“ left out of your slogan for International Women's Day. Even more disturbing is the fact that on the international front, much of this leadership is being lost.
In 2004, for example, Canada ranked seventh on the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index to which you alluded in your statement. Yet, we cannot lose sight of the fact that today, Canada is in 25th position. Furthermore, Canada occupies the 73rd rank on the UN's gender gap index.
If I were the Minister responsible for the Status of Women, I would be very worried about the fact that Canada has taken a major step backward. In my opinion, we must not compare ourselves with those who rank at the bottom of the index. Canada's current ranking is no cause for celebration.