Status of Women Committee on March 15th, 2010

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I was trying to answer the question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I think Madam Neville was asking a question. Would you please allow the question to be asked?

I heard everyone deciding that we would all be brief.

Ms. Neville, would you finish your question, and then Minister would you give a brief answer?

Thank you very much.

Yes?

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Madam Chair, in the same sense, if the opposition asks a question, to allow the minister to respond is also appropriate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Absolutely. I think we have to find a balance here because we can't go on with long answers that take up the time.

Ms. Neville, ask the question quickly, and, Madam Guergis, Minister, please answer the question quickly.

You have one minute.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Minister, you spoke about aboriginal women. You referenced Sisters in Spirit funding. My question to you is twofold. What is happening with Sisters in Spirit funding? Secondly, yesterday I attended in Montreal, and the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal indicated to us that a third of their funding was cut because of the cut in funding to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. Was your agency aware of it? Did you advocate on behalf of it? I know that you champion shelters and they do good work. What is happening really for aboriginal women?

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

As you know, Sisters in Spirit is coming to a close. I continue to work very closely with the Native Women's Association. The next step will begin immediately after March 31, on April 1, and their funding will continue. We are working on what the next five years look like very closely together.

In addition to that, Minister Strahl did answer in the House today specific to that file, with the organization you're speaking with, the residential schools...and the issue of the shelter that you're talking about is not my file. But I think, Ms. Neville, you are aware of the work I have been doing with shelters across the country, supporting the first-time creation of a national shelter network. In fact, when I was at the UN, I was presented with an award from the global shelter network for the work that I have done on domestic violence--

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

But this shelter is being dismantled.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

--and within this national organization there is in fact aboriginal representation--

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I have to call the time now. I'm sorry.

Everyone should really make an effort. I know you are used to making SO 31s in the House. People know how to fit the answer and the question to suit the time. I will not allow time to go over again.

The next person is Monsieur Desnoyers.

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Minister, you stated that several billion dollars had been allocated to women. If we take a closer look at Mr. Flaherty's budget, however, we realize that it does not actually contain anything new for women. Given the economic crisis that they have experienced in recent years, I don't think their needs are being adequately considered. Women were the first ones to feel the effects of this crisis and unfortunately, they are still feeling the effects of it more than anyone else today. In a move to streamline operations, the government is planning to cut all departmental budgets significantly.

Are you going to cut funding to women once again, when they have already endured significant cutbacks? A number of agencies have seen their funding slashed in recent budgets.

Furthermore, Madam MInister, would you agree that we need to invest in social structures if we truly want to see improvements on the employment front? In order for women to really have access to the labour market—and they deserve this as much as men—, they must have access to real daycare services.

There is also nothing in the budget for senior women. As I understand it, you have not made any demands in so far as they are concerned. Last December, however, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women tabled a report on women and pensions to the House of Commons. It contained several proactive recommendations regarding women, and in particular recommendations regarding senior women.

As Minister, do you intend to follow up on these recommendations?

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Thank you very much.

As has been said around this table many times, my role as the Minister of State for the Status of Women is to work with all my federal colleagues across government. I play a gender-based analysis function at the table, and I can tell you that of course I was consulted on a number of the initiatives that are in the budget, and will be as we go forward.

I think it's very important for you to realize and remember that with unemployment right now, it's really difficult for all Canadians when you're in a recession and coming out of a recession. Our government's focus with our economic action plan is to ensure that we can create an atmosphere and an opportunity for all Canadians so that we can come out of this economy in a situation not only faster, but stronger than we were in the beginning.

My goal, of course, is to ensure that women are alongside men. We are almost 52% of the population. I'm sure you would agree with me that there isn't a political party that would ignore 52% of the population. It just wouldn't make any sense.

We always work in the best interest of all Canadians with the economic action plan. I'd like to highlight again that for the first time in Canada's history, 59% of the population...when you look at employment, it's women who outnumber men for the very first time in Canada's history.

I would also like to talk a little bit about the non-traditional trades focus that we have at the agency. We have the highest level of spending at Status of Women Canada in Canada's history, and we are focusing on non-traditional trades and training women in these very particular careers of heavy equipment operators, welders, electricians, you name it. That's what we're working on, and we're seeing some very high success rates, especially for those women who are coming out of very vulnerable situations. We're giving them those opportunities and training.

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Madam Minister, we talk about an economic recovery from a numbers standpoint. However, women are still without work. We can continue to talk about access to employment, as you are doing, but the fact remains that women are at a disadvantage. The gender gap still exists today. In terms of gender gap, Canada ranks fifth among OECD countries. Unfortunately, our failure to apply important wage parity legislation only makes this gap more glaring.

As I see it, the budget contains nothing more than pious wishes. Earlier, you spoke of billions of dollars, but you forgot to mention women.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Perhaps I might just cite for you the fact that the World Economic Forum gender gaps report that was released in August highlighted that Canada had improved, that we had risen six spaces, and that we were ahead of the United States. In fact, out of the four categories, specifically economic participation, Canada was a leader. We are in fact closing the gender gap.

We were number one on literacy. We were in the top for educational attainment for women. With respect to women's health, we were in the top. The fourth category, where we need to improve, is democratic participation and seeing women in more leadership roles. That's why our government has made some significant focus on the Canadian municipalities association and other organizations. There are some very good groups in Quebec that we're working with and partnering on in educating young women and increasing their political literacy skills.

So while we do have more work to do, there has been progress. I do think you do have to celebrate that progress and recognize where we have come in order to continue to eliminate the gender gap.

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I see.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You have the floor, Mr. Desnoyers. Go ahead. I'll tell you when you're done.

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I asked you a supplementary question, but you did not answer me. I can also mention the other questions that you have not answered.

I pointed out to you that there is nothing in the current budget for women, in so far as pensions are concerned. The committee worked long and hard on this issue. We heard from witnesses who explained to us that there was a significant gender gap in terms of pensions. We need to remember that women were not in the labour force. The situation isn't much different today because women have lost their jobs. In future, they will encounter a major problem with pensions.

As I said, the committee worked hard to table a report containing a number of recommendations. I asked you if you were prepared to support these recommendations and if you will be asking your fellow ministers to follow up on them so that Canadian women can make advances in this area.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I can confirm for you that I will continue to work with my senior colleagues, as I always have. And yes, senior women and the issues that we have for them.... We know that the majority of our senior population is senior women, and it is a great concern.

For my part, I cannot speak for the Minister of Finance and his pension plan, sir, and you know that.

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Unfortunately, you are not answering the question of whether you intend to support the committee's recommendations.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Order!

Madam Boucher, I am on top of it, thanks.

Will you please allow the minister to answer, Monsieur Desnoyers? Thank you.

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Again, my question to you is as follows: Will you be supporting the demands, or recommendations of this committee?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

The question is clear and the minister will answer it.

You have only another 15 seconds. Thank you.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I have already answered the question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Madam Boucher.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Good day, Minister. Welcome to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.

As you know, we work very hard for the cause of gender equality. The women here today decided one day to enter the political arena. We decided to take on a leadership role. We know, and we have often discussed this in committee, especially when examining the situation of women in non-traditional fields of employment, that women are not as well represented in politics in Canada as we would like. We would like to see many more women enter politics.

Recently, along with the Canadian Federation of Municipalities, you announced funding for projects that encourage women to get involved in politics. You have allocated $361,265 to the Women in Municipal Government National Program.

Could you tell us more about this announcement and why it is important for women to take on a leadership role at this time?

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

It has been identified that the magic number seems to be 30% or three. If you look at Fortune 500 companies, there is a dramatic difference in the return on equity and return on sales between companies that have three women on a board and those that do not. It's been recognized that if you truly want to see change within governments, having 30% is an ideal number. We realize that our federal Parliament is at 22%.

I highlighted the World Economic Forum gender gap report, which had said this was where Canada needed to see some improvement. So what we are doing at the agency as part of our plan for women's equality is to work with elected officials at all levels of government and prepare a mentorship program, to prepare opportunities for young women to be paired up with those who are elected in order to increase their political literacy skills, and to provide training programs and such. I believe the project you're talking about right now is the one I announced on International Women's Day with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Chair Pam McConnell, who is a fantastic woman who has great experience, as do all on their women's committee. We're doing some great work with them.

In addition to that, I already highlighted Equal Voice, which has $1.2 million over, I believe, three years to provide them the opportunity to reach out to over 5,000 young women between the ages of 15 and 24 across the country. Of course, this is in the hope that we can see more women elected. I think all of us around the table would agree we would like to see more balance, and I think that would be of benefit to all of us, because then we'll be in those leadership and decision-making roles.