Status of Women committee  The funds were definitely flexible. It really was up to each shelter to decide. As we know, the situation varies so much from region to region across the country, so shelters were able to spend the money on PPE in the early days, on alternative accommodation, on transportation. W

Status of Women committee  In terms of the national action plan, we've often looked to Australia. In Australia they have recently completed their first 12-year plan. They divided it into four three-year plans in order to constantly be re-evaluating what they were doing and adding to it. Obviously, they hav

Status of Women committee  Thank you very much for this invitation. Women's Shelters Canada brings together 15 provincial and territorial shelter organizations representing over 600 shelters across Canada. The COVID pandemic has challenged us all on so many levels. For women and children living with viol

Finance committee  Transportation is a huge issue in the rural areas, and the shelters, for sure, are few and far between in rural areas. Did you say you're from B.C.?

Finance committee  B.C. is unique in the sense that they have a whole system of safe homes that serve women in the rural and remote areas of the province, and those safe homes were covered by the federal COVID funds.

Finance committee  I think transportation is another important part. As Melpa said earlier as well, it's not just looking at one thing. For rural and remote shelters and women living in these areas, transportation is key.

Finance committee  Yes.

Finance committee  No. There are definitely bottlenecks in the system. That's what we're trying to get a better grasp of.

Finance committee  We're not a shelter. We would not apply. We're an umbrella organization that brings together—

Finance committee  I would think so, but there are 550 shelters across the country, so I don't know. I can't give you a definite answer. I know the 40% has been a stumbling block, the need to contribute 40% if you're starting from scratch in terms of buying the land and building. That has been a d

Finance committee  I guess I would turn that around. I would say, what can the government do to facilitate so that we can build? We know the needs that need to be built. Rather than bringing in the private sector as the saviour here, we—

Finance committee  Okay. That's something that needs to be looked at. You want to make sure that it's an equitable partnership. I guess that's part of our concern, that certain private sector or different builders will go in and they don't necessarily have the background knowledge. There is potent

Finance committee  There's no doubt that a national child care program will benefit women across the board in this country. I think specifically about the women we work with, the women who are in shelters. This is an example of where flexibility will be required. Often a woman who goes to a shelter

Finance committee  May I add a comment?

Finance committee  It requires better collaboration, too, between the federal government and the provinces—