Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the government. I do not know to whom it is directed, but someone will surely rise to give an answer.
Yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister said that to avoid patronage and prevent order in council appointments of friends of the government, the government decided to abolish the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women. That is what she said, although it is rather surprising.
Considering the important role played by the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, would the Deputy Prime Minister or another member of the government not agree that it was not absolutely unnecessary to abolish the council in order to avoid partisan order in council appointments and that the government should simply have opted for another appointment process that would guarantee the arm's length position of the members?