The 1995/96 fiscal year ended well within budget in spite of the added workload resulting from the Prison for Women Inquiry. A P4W expense account was set up to monitor the cost to the association and Kim was able to keep the expenses below $5,000.

AGM expenses were lower than anticipated as a result of lower travel and accommodation costs, including Kim's way being paid through her work with the National Crime Prevention Council. The year's over-all Board travel expenses have been lower because of the absence of some Board members, and because of the savings incurred by moving the meeting place from a downtown hotel to "Econiche House" in Cantley, Quebec.

Solicitor General Sustaining Funding for 1995/96 was once again based on a 5% (of 1990-91 funding) cut to current year's funding. The Solicitor General Sustaining Funding Program is still under review, and the Ministry of the Solicitor General (MSG) has undertaken to consult with the National Voluntary Organizations and the National Associations Active in Criminal Justice. We are members of both groups and will be represented at meetings by Kim and/or Sue.

As the amount requested by National Voluntary Organization's exceeds the amount that Parliament has allocated to these programs, the Ministry of the Solicitor General's stated intention is, through consultation, to agree on "options for a funding formula which will best provide for a strong future for each of the national organizations who receive core funding while maintaining the integrity of the program". Historically, when funding cuts were required, they were made equally to the allocations of all agencies from their traditional funding base.

In the past year, a great deal of good has been done with a relatively small amount of money, and Kim and Liza are to be congratulated. However, we must face the fact that we may soon be looking for other funding sources.

This is to confirm that we have examined the information contained in the foregoing 1995/96 financial summary. We are satisfied that the information presented is prepared directly from the audited financial statements on which we reported, and it fairly represents the position and the results of operations for the year.