Mr. Speaker, today is the anniversary of the day that women became persons in this country.
Today, women across Canada are holding vigils and celebrations, including tea with the Famous Five, to mark this historic occasion and I celebrate with them.
However, only nine months after committing to take concrete and immediate action to increase women's equality in this country, the Conservative government slashed the budget of the Status of Women, removed any reference to the word “equality” from its mandate and disallowed advocacy on the part of groups who receive federal funds through the department.
This giant leap backward effectively silences the voices of the most vulnerable women in our society.
Today, the Governor General is honouring women for their great work in the struggle for women's equality but, ironically, one of these groups receiving the award has had its funding gutted by the government.
One can only conclude that the attitude of the government is “You've come far enough baby”.