Mr. Speaker, the Conservative minority government is showing blatant disrespect to Canadian women.
It has cut the budget for Status of Women by almost 40%, effectively crippling organizations that are fighting for equality for women. It has removed the word “equality” from its mandate. There is no support with the Conservative minority government for the advocacy for women. The government's elimination of the court challenges program is just another example.
Among other groups such as minority language groups and immigrant groups, women's groups need resources to ensure their arguments are heard when they feel their rights have been trampled on.
Last week I talked to young people at the university in London, Ontario who could not understand the rationale for these types of short-sighted decisions.
The Conservative minority government continues to prove that it really does not care about women. I stand with my colleagues in this House who have been maligned by the government.