Mr. Speaker, International Women's Day is an unique opportunity for looking at our progress as far as the status of women is concerned.
In the past few decades, women have definitely made considerable advances, but the battle is far from over, as an examination of their socio-economic situation will show.
In last Saturday's Le Devoir , an article by Claire Harvey offered a clear picture of just how precarious women's employment is. According to her, close to 70% of women are part time workers.
She confirms the Bloc Quebecois' contention that women rarely qualify for the maternity leave available in the employment insurance program. She also indicates that current labour market conditions have increased poverty among women.
Yet in its latest budget, the Liberal government thumbed its nose at the difficult situation of women, by refusing to make any improvements to an employment insurance program which excludes 7 out of 10 of them.
This speaks volumes about the government's true intentions, and shows just how far down the grocery list of priorities women rank.