Status of Women committee  We encourage the federal government to reinvest funds, to maintain, and to grow. That means more essential infrastructure to serve all of its citizens. Ongoing support of the Status of Women Canada is a sound investment that will have significant, positive socio-economic consequences for all Canadians.

Status of Women committee  You said that community-based groups were going to fund projects?

Status of Women committee  I think funding women's organizations, which are community organizations, is very important. It's not only about accessibility to everything out there, because we're not there to marginalize women, but it's also creating solutions that come from women and women's voices. As my neighbour here said, they know what the answers are and it's not always the traditional model that answers to those needs.

Status of Women committee  Research is key, not only to know where we're going, but it's also important for groups to have access to those research pieces to go elsewhere for funding. I'm from an organization that gets funding from several sources, but research is very important.

Status of Women committee  I'm sorry, equality of outcome?

Status of Women committee  I'll just say it in my own words. I say it's about rights.

Status of Women committee  No. I'd say that equality, for me, is about women having choices, about having access to resources that respond to their specific needs. When we're talking about women who come from a marginalized population, they're further away from those opportunities. Equality for me is that they have access to resources that will respond to those needs to give them more opportunities to become autonomous.

Status of Women committee  It has been forgotten, which has turned the problem into something that is invisible. I can speak for my work on the ground. I work in a women's centre on micro-credit and community economic development, and when women go into what we call traditional economic development resources, they aren't well received in all cases.

Status of Women committee  When you mentioned that research drives the advocacy that drives the policy, I'd also say that the research is connected to the women who are doing the work. We know that we need both the research and the policy, but we need to speak to that policy with the women. That's the other component.

Status of Women committee  I would just like to add that we're not talking about programs aimed at people who have financial means. We deal with the most marginalized people. When programs are abolished, the most marginalized among us become even more isolated and have even less of a voice. All of these programs are very important.

Status of Women committee  First of all, it would be very helpful if there were more women in Parliament or in government. I am very impressed by the number of women who are here today. I am looking over there to see how things worked previously, but one certainly cannot say that we have achieved equality in Parliament.

Status of Women committee  Thank you. Good afternoon. I would like to begin by thanking you for inviting me to appear today. My name is Joni Simpson and I represent the Canadian Women's Community Economic Development Council. Community economic development that focuses on women is a way of including women in decision-making and local economic development in order to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of women, their families, and their community.