Status of Women committee  Sure. I can respond. Again, I point to the reality, particularly working with this youth program, of providing that broad range of topics and being very open in discussing them. It has been our experience that young people have been very interested in learning about what the Can

Status of Women committee  They're having success in a broad range of sectors. Certainly, we see women with many different experiences integrating into the workforce. One of the really big challenges is women who come without any language other than their own. That is probably one of the biggest struggles

Status of Women committee  As to resources, we need to look at where women are coming from and be able to support them in their journey. Some of our programs adopt a pathway approach. This means giving people, particularly if they're coming from jobs they've done in their own country, the opportunity to mo

Status of Women committee  We could continue to support the programs, for example, that many settlement organizations like ISANS are offering now, across the country. Employment workshops, job resumé workshops, language training. Specifically, it depends where you come in. In our language training, we deal

Status of Women committee  I'm not sure about this exact fund, but we do have a fund that is supported through the government to allow people who have come, who don't have the funds, to be able to get their qualifications to study for exams, or to do certain things. It's a loan fund: they can receive a loa

Status of Women committee  It's very good.

Status of Women committee  We would certainly support the continued use of that resource. I think we're entering into some negotiations right now, but that has been very valuable. Also I would say support around the international qualification recognition program is really critical as well. I understand th

Status of Women committee  Certainly we would see great public transit systems as being very important in supporting all Canadians, but particularly people who are coming into our country as newcomers and being able to access resources and child care as fundamental things that help support women integratin

Status of Women committee  It would rank very much at the top, absolutely.

Status of Women committee  I certainly think that we'd support that. Probably what we're hearing about most right now, in terms of immigrant women facing domestic violence, is the lack of resources within the shelter community to be able to respond adequately to their situations. Immigrant women may be cho

Status of Women committee  We try to provide a whole suite of language opportunities. Again, it's not the one-size-fits-all that needs to be understood. It's sometimes very difficult for women who have come into the country, who have large families, and are really struggling. Again, this is the child care

Status of Women committee  I think one of the critical things is the actual language training with trained EAL staff, who are constantly trained. If anyone is going to advance through to get the competency and to get their CLB 4 or 5, to be able to move into the workplace and work, it's going to require sp

Status of Women committee  Yes.

Status of Women committee  We have conversation circles that are run by volunteers. We're also beginning the HIPPY program, which is looking at having trained staff go into the home and work with women and their children. It's working with children in terms of literacy, but also helping women. There are a

Status of Women committee  Women are coming in with a variety of different experiences and backgrounds. Certainly the issue of international qualification recognition is very important. I must say that Nova Scotia has been a leader. I think we now have 13 specific groups we work with in engineering, pharma