In November, Mr. Speaker, Statistics Canada published the findings of a survey of 12,300 women across Canada. The results are frightening: one woman in two has been the victim of violence at least once since the age of 16 and one in ten has feared for her life.
In my riding, the situation is even more serious because there is no women's shelter. The riding of Vaudreuil has a population of 110,000, 80 per cent of whom are French-speaking. Women who need a shelter for themselves and their children must go to the West Island of Montreal, an English-speaking community.
At present, La Moisson, a counselling and referral centre, tries to help battered women, but it is only open five days a week, during office hours.
In its last fiscal year, La Moisson responded to 478 requests from battered women and the demand has doubled since October.
The situation is serious and that is why I ask the Minister of Public Works and Government Services to deal with this issue and solve the problem as soon as possible.