That's an important question, Sonia. Thank you so much for introducing me to that organization and helping me understand exactly what it does.
I am speaking to you as a child of West Indian parents, immigrant parents. The need for a cultural approach to this is something I have seen first-hand. Often, in various cultures, when there is violence, such as intimate partner violence and gender-based violence, the culture dictates that people stay, that women stay, because once you're together you stay. That is a reality right across this country. It is something that I know to be true.
To have culturally appropriate services to highlight specifically what is needed in various communities is important. If a woman is experiencing intimate partner violence and doesn't have anywhere to go, that's a huge problem. If she can go to a centre that she knows speaks directly to her culture, that helps. That can save lives.
I'll add one more thing here, Sonia. I think I said this before, but I will reiterate it. For indigenous culture, during the pandemic, culturally relevant centres—friendship centres—across our country, whose doors were open and that my ministry supported, talked to women who were experiencing violence and were there for them. This saved their lives and helped them, and saved the lives of their children.
Thank you, Madam Chair, for indulging me.