Mr. Chairman, we are all aware that the Charter of Rights, and under the particular section that the Minister is trying to refer to does agree that there should be equality to male and female persons in looking at gender equality. At the same time, we know that in order for women to achieve gender equality, they still have quite a way to go.
This Minister is even trying to address gender equality in regard to pay, in regard to many different issues within his government, and he still has not even been able to do that.
There are many questions that are posed in opposition to womens' groups across the country and have been voiced by womens' organizations, and this includes the Native Women's Association.
They also indicated that the package, which allows provinces to opt out in national social problems, will be a barrier to new national social programs, such as national child day care, if they ever get one, and threatens existing programs such as medicare, education and programs addressing violence against women. I wonder if the Chairman, the Minister, and representatives can indicate whether or not they agree with the view that the new division of powers, proposed in the constitutional package, would make it less likely that the federal government would take the initiative to develop new national programs, since the federal government has been making such hasty decisions in curbing and cutting universal programs.
I take for example, the family allowance bill, that went through the House just last week. I would like to ask the Minister that particular question. Thank you.