Thank you, Madam Chair.
Welcome to our witnesses today.
Our study here is obviously focused on economic leadership and prosperity, on looking at celebrating the successes, but also looking at the challenges. I think we know in terms of research, but also in terms of our experiences as women, that safety and safety from violence is a key factor in allowing us to prosper.
With that in mind—and I know we heard a bit about what Status of Women funding has gone to over the last number of years—I want to go to the applications for the Status of Women's agency's call for proposals on “Working Together: Engaging communities to end violence against women and girls”. It was launched in 2012. I noticed that 62 out of the 288 organizations on this list are aboriginal organizations that sought funding. Knowing, of course, that indigenous women are both over-represented in terms of marginalization, in terms of poverty, but also in terms of violence, I'm wondering why it is that only two out of the 62 organizations that sought funds, received funds?
I'm wondering why that is the case. But also, if it is a question of criteria, what is Status of Women doing to be able to work through the criteria to allow more indigenous women's organizations to access economic opportunities and opportunities of prosperity?