Chairperson, Cope opposes the Vote for Women, Children and People with Disabilities. We do so with a very heavy heart as we believe very strongly that this department needs all the support it can get to advance the lot of women, children and people with disabilities. Unfortunately, as everyone can see, this is not the case, if anything, the advent of this department has set back the strides which we were making in respect of gender parity and women issues.
This department is all cosmetic; it does not answer the needs of women, children and people with disabilities. Because we stand for the advancement of women, children and people with disabilities, we know that this department will be more of an impediment rather than providing assistance. We will not support this Vote for as long as it remains constituted the way it is. [Interjections.]
Let me finish. Irrespective of the chicken with or without a head, according to the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, Cope will not support this Budget Vote. [Applause.]