I know there has been new funding recently announced for various initiatives across Canada addressing violence against women issues. I think it's important for us to remember that's happening in the context of over 10 years of cuts that have really decimated our previous capacity to respond. Historically, over 69 really important agencies have been cut across Canada, including agencies like the National Association of Women and the Law, health resources, first nations resources, settlement resources, and resources for newcomers—women like that.
The peer-to-peer agencies that I spoke about are historically very underfunded. Because my most recent background is as executive director of a peer-to-peer agency serving sex workers, I happen to be aware that PEERS Victoria and its sister agencies across the country are literally hanging on by a thread to do work that is very specialized because the people doing the work have overcome their own whatever it is that they have lived with, gained education and experience, and are now providing supports in the community. You can't buy that experience. Without funding, these agencies are disappearing and it costs us all more.