Status of Women committee  My understanding of the discontinuation of the research arm that you referred to, Madam Chair, is that it was a funding program that funded initiatives of research outside of Status of Women Canada. Internally to Status of Women Canada, as part of the strategic policy function and strategic policy group we have, I do have some research funds that we and all federal departments use to ensure we can get information, access to Statistics Canada studies, or we can ask them for specific questions within surveys that are being done.

Status of Women committee  You mean the evaluation document, right?

Status of Women committee  Yes, absolutely. Having some experience in working horizontally in the federal government will certainly serve in trying to do it in Status of Women Canada. You learn how to attract people to the table and how to present issues to be able to get the best response and the best participation.

Status of Women committee  In terms of the objectives of the program, it's definitely about helping women directly. It's about working with communities to address the barriers and the obstacles that are keeping women from achieving economic security, about helping women get out of situations that are violent or that may present a situation of violence.

Status of Women committee  Well, I'm very pleased to say that the program that I've just taken on has a 36-month horizon for projects. It's one of the few terms and conditions in the government that is allowing us to do multi-year projects. Unless the group has specifically identified one year as being the period within which it wants to undertake a project, there would be no reason for us to be limiting it to that period.

Status of Women committee  Of what's not already out there, you mean?

Status of Women committee  I was not given a mandate to restructure.

Status of Women committee  It is ensuring that people who engage in work of similar or equal value receive similar or equal pay.

Status of Women committee  It will certainly be a priority for my colleague at the labour department. What I mean is that we support our colleagues who have policy mandates. I know that the labour department has been working on this issue for a number of years now.

Status of Women committee  It is definitely an important issue for Status of Women Canada. Since there is a greater representation of women in Canada's population, there are few issues that Status of Women Canada would not consider important. What I am saying is that Status of Women Canada's role is the same on this front as on a number of others.

Status of Women committee  They talked mostly about their relationship with Status of Women Canada in previous years. The discussion was very positive. It was in relation to the meeting in New York, and we met in a cafeteria. The conditions that year were not the best because of renovations.

Status of Women committee  No. We agreed that we would meet soon to discuss things of a slightly more serious nature. The purpose of the meeting was to get to know one another. Everyone introduced themselves and talked about their role and their experience with Status of Women Canada in recent years.

Status of Women committee  Yes, absolutely.

Status of Women committee  In our work...

Status of Women committee  Yes, absolutely. In our work, we, and especially me, are often in the public arena, taking part in meetings and forums. I intend to be very active throughout the country. So I will certainly have the chance to meet with these groups. My door is not closed to anyone. On the contrary, I want to learn from every stakeholder.