Again, we're looking at the long-term impact on women who break away from violence and come to a shelter.
Yes, there is definitely a correlation. The cost of living has gone up.
However, there are opportunities for women to combat the cost of living. If we take a few months—whether it's two months, four months or six months—to train them in a skill, they become immediately employable and start to contribute to the economy of the country, making the country more prosperous. Women, once trained, are able to combat affordability issues. It's very important that we look at what we can do. What kinds of skills can we provide to these women once they come to the shelter? What can we do to make them employable?
We talked about the epidemic in Durham region, but it's all over the country. Six thousand women and children are staying in emergency shelters on a typical day, but many thousands of them are waiting. This is an epidemic. If there is an epidemic, what does a government do? It has to create a task force. It has to get a group of people together from government sources to go throughout Canada and see why vulnerable women are ignored. Why are there limited funds available for these women to break away from violence? Then, it can come back with a report and a recommendation.
This is what I recommend should take place.