Thank you, and thank you, Mr. Langtry. It's nice to have you here and to listen to your presentation.
I want to assure you that our government has always sent a clear message that violence against women, wherever it occurs, should not be tolerated. But women on reserves are being abused and victimized without the protections they need, and especially without the rights and protections that all other women across Canada have.
Certainly we've had lots of consultations for Bill S-2. There have been 103 consultations across 76 communities and our government has spent over $8 million in this study. We see the need to go forward and make this happen.
It's been 25 years since this legal gap has been identified. Everyone, including our witnesses, agree that Bill S-2 is not meant to be a catch-all piece of legislation and that it has been drafted to address a specific legal loophole.
Do you agree that the first nations men and women living on reserves should not have to wait another 25 years for this legal gap to be closed? We need action on this now to protect the lives of women.