Mr. Speaker, yesterday evening, I had the pleasure of attending an International Women's Day event in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Events similar to the one I attended were held around the world to observe and celebrate the achievements of women but also, at the same time, to recognize their struggle for equality, a struggle that continues to this day.
The theme of last night's seminar was “Women in the Arts” and the evening's purpose was to celebrate the Island's female artistic leaders. It was also a reminder that, even today, women in this industry earn as much as 28% less than their male counterparts.
The discussion was lively, informative and thought-provoking as the panellists discussed the importance of the arts and cultural community in today's society, the challenges they face as artists and the challenges faced by everyone in the arts and culture community in Prince Edward Island and throughout Canada.
I would like to thank and congratulate the organizers of yesterday's events.