Finance committee  I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I only have seven minutes and we're halfway through. There are those who talk about virtue signalling and the idea of gender equality being part of a trade agenda in the sense that it's not even worth pursuing, that really the idea ought to be dollars and cents, making sure that it's all about cold, hard economics.

Finance committee  I think the sincerity is there, and it's demonstrated, and we're moving forward in the right direction. However, your points are certainly well taken. I have about a minute left I believe, and with that I want to ask you a question on coordination. You talked about it, but I wonder if you could expand on the point.

Finance committee  It's tolling for all of us, Mr. Chair. In any case, I'd like to begin with you, Professor Hannah. Thank you very much for being here and for your outstanding presentation. You mentioned—and I wrote it down as you said it—that “the impacts of trade liberalization are gendered”.

Finance committee  I'm going to have to interrupt you there, because I see that I have about a minute and a half left.

Finance committee  I do want to ask Mr. Yussuff something. I told you at the outset today that my grandmother is a former labour leader, and I want to put that to you. With regard to organized labour, what are the plans going forward that you and colleagues have to continue this fight for pay equity beyond the federally regulated sectors and have it within the wider society?

Finance committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Thank you to all witnesses for appearing today. I want to focus on pay equity. That was the focus of my questions yesterday during our sessions. I have a number of constituents who are highly interested in this—at least half of my constituency, for obvious reasons—but beyond that it's everyone's issue, quite frankly.

Finance committee  When Preston Manning agrees with the rationale of our policy, I think it speaks volumes about our direction, quite frankly. There's a minute left in my questioning here, so I want to ask you about pay equity. We've been talking about doing something for decades. This is the most meaningful piece of legislation that's come forward.

Finance committee  I disagree.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Minister, for being here. Thank you for the work you're doing. In the riding of London North Centre, which I represent in the House of Commons, 19,000 children have benefited from the CCB. That is tremendously important in a community that has struggled economically since 2008 but is now pivoting.

Finance committee  I don't mean to interrupt, but I would like to hear from Mr. Cross.

Finance committee  Yes, or do you have—

Finance committee  Okay, why don't you?

Finance committee  Okay, in what way?

Finance committee  Thank you very much. I'll go to Ms. Doucet because of your expertise in gender.

Finance committee  If I understand you correctly—and I appreciate that you put so much on the table—you're saying that in terms of looking forward and creating the conditions for greater economic growth, pay equity is central to the conversation.