Thank you, Madam Chair.
Ms. Ambrose, welcome to this committee. We hope to see you again at our committee very soon and as often as possible.
Madam Minister, the United Nations is one thing, but last night, at a meeting of the NDP women's caucus, we had with us Michèle Audette, the President of the Native Women's Association of Canada. She did not see things as you do, in that she was saying that, before getting men and boys involved, it is necessary to provide basic, essential services, including a shortage of 10,000 homes in first nations communities.
Here are my questions for you.
The Main Estimates 2013-2014 show a transfer from Justice Canada to Status of Women Canada. It is intended to strengthen the development of knowledge for aboriginal service and resource deliverers so that they can better deal with the problems of sexual violence against women in their communities. The funding of projects designed to improve the lives of women and girls is very important.
Given the seriousness of the problem of sexual violence against first nations women, is Status of Women Canada recommending a national inquiry on missing or murdered aboriginal women?