Just as the nation is committed to developing and expressing its identity, so too are the women who make up the majority of the Canadian population. Organizations such as the National Action Committee on the Status of Women are dedicated to enunciating our communal identity, and we express our individual identities through our choices with regard to marriage, reproduction, and work.

The Canadian Congress for Learning Opportunities for Women was formed in response to the growing desire among women to widen our horizons by increasing our knowledge and skills. In our schools and universities, women are more and more choosing to pursue non-traditional disciplines and break down the barriers which channeled us into areas considered appropriate for women in the past. For women as well as for men, the concept of lifelong learning has come to the forefront in the last decade.

The economic direction which we choose now will have a major impact on our future ability to recognize and foster the emerging values and aspirations of Canadians in the post-industrial era. Economic stability and prosperity can provide individuals and the nation with the necessary tools to exercise the choices available to them. Therefore, the policy decisions we make must be based on an understanding and appreciation of these values. Our economic choices must support our social priorities and acknowledge the diversity of the individuals who constitute the nation.

In the current priority-setting discussions which the Minister of Finance has initiated, we must begin by considering our priorities as a society and then establish our economic objectives within this context. The consultation must be a broadly inclusive discussion about societal directions which the economy must be directed to serve. We must always recognize that economic policy is a means to an end, not an end in itself.

For this government to chart a meaningful new economic course, its policies must arise from within the framework of the current movements of social change and reflect the values of independence, community, identity, and knowledge. Our institutions have not kept pace with the changes in our value structures and individual expression of those values. This consultation offers the opportunity to re-examine our national institutions and bring them in line with reality.

Specific policy thrusts should contribute to freedom of choice for all Canadians and the opportunity to participate fully in the nation's business. To do this, policies must be in place which will enable women as well as men to choose from a variety of alternatives. People need to be able to move freely between the paid labor force and the home and not be penalized precedence. This mobility requires a reexamination of our social welfare structure, including the Canada Pension Plan, the Unemployment Insurance Program, and the Income Tax Act, to ensure that we are not forced to choose between economic and personal well being. These programs have long been used as tools of social policy, and it is necessary to recognize this vital function in any decisions affecting them.

Programs are required which allow individuals to exercise control over their economic situation by identifying and meeting their own needs. This control involves more local autonomy in setting priorities and deciding on the appropriate investment and disbursement of funds. Federal money should be dedicated to cooperative ventures such as the Regina Women's Health Sharing Program, Bread and Roses in Toronto, and cooperative housing initiatives across the country.

Economic policies should recognize the reality of women's involvement and facilitate their full participation by rewarding companies which support their employees through child care, quality of working life, and affirmative action programs for women. Government contract compliance regulations should be expanded and enforced for all companies doing business with the federal government. At the same time, our definition of the Canadian economy through such tools as the Gross National Product should be restructured to take into account the economic contribution of women's unpaid work.