Other countries have a plan similar to Canada's national action plan on women, peace and security. In many cases, it flows from legislation.
What makes the plan so important is that it's a way for the federal government to show leadership and, as Ms. Dunn said, foster a much more consistent response across the country. By putting a national strategy in place, the federal government can better work with the provinces to ensure a response that is much more tailored to the needs of abused women and their children.
Furthermore [Technical difficulty—Editor], we know that some provinces have action plans but lack policies around specialized courts and other measures. The federal government could take a leadership role, working with the provinces to come up with a much more consistent and accessible approach Canada-wide. We feel strongly that the needs of abused women should be addressed in every part of Canada.
I referred to specialized courts, but clearly, action is required on a number of fronts. In particular, shelters should be more accessible. Quebec has 130, but Manitoba and the Northwest Territories have very few. It isn't about how large the population is; it's about what women need to be safe. Only three shelters exist in the Northwest Territories, where distance is a huge factor. In some cases, they are only accessible by plane. That is a major barrier for women who want to leave an abusive relationship.
We are very hopeful that a national strategy will address all the needs of women no matter where they are in Canada.