So I don't know what the answer to that is, but it's an area of study that, if it hasn't been done, the Status of Women Secretariat should look at: whether or not the economic security in that sense—What is the real prosperity gap?

Specifically, strengthening the equalization program would be a concrete step toward self-sufficiency in the Atlantic region and a further narrowing of the economic gap with the rest of the country.

Economic differences between, and demographic changes within, developed and developing countries, on a background of trade, political problems and instability in countries of origin, have all contributed to a steady increase in workforce mobility.

We can narrow the 'economic distance' which affects rural or geographically isolated regions. This is the key to a greater balance between the town and the countryside in economic development.

The economic gaps have closed far too slowly over the past 20 years to suggest that aboriginal poverty has been dealt with.

(9) Whereas the competitivity gap should be established for each individual traditional ACP supplier on the basis of the price differences observed at the entry into the Community market, taking into account the quantities exported to the Community; whereas, so as to avoid the impact of short-term price fluctuations, the price difference to be considered should be calculated on the basis of a sufficiently long reference period immediately preceding the year of application; whereas, in order to grant a comparable treatment to all traditional ACP suppliers, irrespective of the specific objective they pursue, the average ACP price difference observed should be used in cases where exports have ceased as a consequence of diversification; whereas, in vi ...[+++]ew of the economic objective of Regulation (EC) No 856/1999 to allow traditional ACP suppliers to maintain a position on the Community market equivalent to that they enjoyed before the entry into force of Council Regulation (EC) No 1637/98(2), the quantities to be considered for the establishment of the competitivity gap should be those realised during the three years preceding the entry into force of that Regulation;