Status of Women committee  Sure. I'll start with that, because we did get funding from Status of Women Canada. The funding came under the old guidelines, so we were probably one of the last organizations to receive funding. This is our first major project with Status of Women Canada, and indeed it's almost all research-based.

Status of Women committee  Thanks very much. Again, these are all very good questions. In terms of what the budget should be for Status of Women Canada, I actually don't know what the budget is right now.

Status of Women committee  DAWN Canada is an organization that began in 1985. Basically, we didn't have core funding for most of our existence. We had a national office that was in the main room of a woman's apartment. Her bed was above the office—she had a tiny little loft. Her walls were stacked almost to the ceiling with paper.

Status of Women committee  I certainly know that what the budget is right now is not adequate for the work that needs to be done. I realize there's probably not much appetite within the government for increasing the budget, but certainly I know, speaking for women with disabilities, that we are the primary providers of income for our families in a vast majority of the cases.

Status of Women committee  Can you clarify: core funding for whom?

Status of Women committee  Thanks very much for asking the question. I believe I did address this in my speech. I think the focus of those dollars would be of advantage to women, absolutely. I think it's time we put our money into action. Often we say amongst ourselves that we're tired of being studied.

Status of Women committee  The very short answer I could give you, Madam Minna, is that it's like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Seriously, how will the government go about addressing the issues of women, including women with disabilities, if they're not properly informed by accurate information based on all the issues that we face?

Status of Women committee  I have one more item. The final item I would like to touch on is the opening to for-profits to apply for funding. As you can tell from my presentation, we have barely the resources to organize nationally or locally, despite the huge need. To put our poor resources in competition with for-profits is shocking.

Status of Women committee  Tansi, everyone. Thank you very much for asking me to speak. I want you to know that I've also been given the privilege and the responsibility of carrying the Cree name that means “Eagle woman who watches over the sacred fire”. I take that name and that responsibility very seriously.