Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her speech especially since we spent time together this summer studying the impact of the pandemic on women. We were in committee for a day and a half.
We found that the time we spent was much too short. I must therefore deplore the fact that Parliament was prorogued because we only had the time to write one letter. We were to resume the work and prepare a much more complete report, which was to be submitted to the minister. I find that regrettable, because it had major repercussions for women. When we met with the minister, I asked her why one of the CALACS in my riding, like many others in Quebec, was unable to obtain the funds needed for projects that directly support women who are victims of domestic violence. That is essential during a pandemic. We know what can happen to many women cooped up at home with their abusers. I did not get an answer.
I had some questions for the minister, because in the last throne speech, in December 2019, the government had already talked about an action plan to address violence against women. I asked the minister when we might see this action plan. I asked her what concrete ideas she wanted to include in the plan. Once again, I got no response. I was left wanting more.
That is another reason why I am eager to get the Standing Committee on the Status of Women back up and running. A lot of work remains to be done. Now more than ever, we need to apply a gender lens to the recovery, with concrete measures to support women as entrepreneurs and help them get back to work.