Evidence of meeting #58 for Status of Women in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was organizations.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Kevin Jones  Acting Director General, National Aboriginal Policing Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Suzanne Clément  Coordinator, Head of Agency, Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women Canada
Lisa Hitch  Senior Counsel, Office of the Senior General Counsel, Family, Children and Youth Section, Department of Justice
Marc Rozon  Director, Innovations, Analysis and Integration Directorate, Department of Justice

11:25 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I will now call this meeting to order.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), this committee is undertaking a study of violence against aboriginal women. We are looking at the scope of that violence. We are looking at the women on reserve, off reserve, and in isolated areas. We're looking at the root causes of that violence and of course with regard to solutions at the end, based on what we hear.

I would like to welcome today the Minister for Status of Women and the Minister of Justice, who will be presenting to us. They have kindly decided that because of the vote, they will stay until 12:20, which will allow us an hour with them, minus five minutes.

I'd like to begin by asking the Minister for Status of Women to present.

You have 10 minutes. Please begin.

11:25 a.m.

Edmonton—Spruce Grove Alberta

Conservative

Rona Ambrose ConservativeMinister for Status of Women

Thank you, Madam Chair.

It's truly a pleasure to be here to join the members of the status of women committee. I commend you for addressing such an important issue as this one.

Madam Chair, honourable members, it is a pleasure for me to be here today with my colleague, Minister Nicholson.

I would also like to acknowledge Inspector Kevin Jones from National Aboriginal Policing Services at the RCMP. Also joining us is Suzanne Clément, Coordinator and Head of Agency for Status of Women Canada, and Linda Savoie, Director General of the Women's Program.

As Minister for Status of Women, I am here today to discuss Status of Women Canada funding and update the committee on funding for the Native Women's Association of Canada.

Over the last five years, our government has taken action to help women be safer, more secure and more economically successful.

Through the Women's Program, Status of Women Canada provides funding for projects across Canada that yield real results for women and girls.

Our government has increased funding to the Women's Program to its highest levels ever, nearly doubling it since 2006.

Last year alone, SWC provided more than $19 million in grants and contribution funding to organizations, in support of more than 350 projects.

These projects address Status of Women Canada's three priority areas: eliminating violence against women and girls, increasing women's economic security, and advancing women's participation in the democratic process.

Last year we introduced the continuous intake process that allows the women's program to accept applications on an ongoing basis. As a result, Status of Women Canada can respond to groups faster and work more closely with them as they develop their projects.

Officials from Status of Women Canada involve other relevant government departments such as Indian and Northern Affairs and Justice Canada in the review of these projects. This new approach increases our ability to respond to emerging issues, allows other potential funding partners to express an interest in contributing to certain projects, and enables us to draw on expertise from across government.

Recently we also introduced the blueprint projects program to the women's program. This new program gives groups the option of adapting one of seven ready-made models to their region instead of spending time and resources to develop a new project from scratch.

We've also worked to address honour-based violence by engaging community organizations in order to raise awareness about and respond to this very important issue.

Violence against women is an issue that cuts across communities, regions, provinces, and territories, and aboriginal women and girls are particularly vulnerable. Our government is working with organizations across Canada to eliminate this issue.

As Minister for Status of Women, I am pleased that Status of Women Canada is collaborating with aboriginal organizations across Canada, such as the Native Women's Association of Canada.

In March 2010, Status of Women Canada provided funding of $500,000 to the Native Women's Association for the recently completed Evidence to Action project. This project aimed to strengthen the abilities of aboriginal women and girls to recognize and respond to violence in their families and communities and to break the cycle of violence.

Last week, when I announced close to $1.9 million in funding for the second phase of this project, entitled Evidence to Action II, Ms. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, the president of the Native Women's Association of Canada, said, “This commitment shows that the Government of Canada and NWAC have a shared dedication to ending violence against Aboriginal women and girls”.

This second phase will strengthen the ability of communities, governments, educators, and service providers to respond to the root causes of violence against aboriginal women and girls. Our ongoing support of the initiatives of the Native Women's Association of Canada is just one example of how we're taking effective action to implement a real and lasting change in the lives of aboriginal women and girls.

Last October, we made an unprecedented announcement of $10 million to address the high number of missing and murdered aboriginal women. At that time we announced seven concrete actions to deal with this issue. Minister Nicholson will be elaborating on those.

But the announcement also included additional funds available upon application to support new culturally appropriate victim services to help the families of missing and murdered aboriginal women, new awareness materials, new school and community-based pilot projects targeted to young aboriginal women, and new community safety plans to enhance the safety of women living in aboriginal communities.

Sue O'Sullivan, the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, praised this announcement by saying that:

...what we need is more government action of this breadth and initiatives that address all aspects of the issue, from prevention and prosecution to victim support. These are the kinds of initiatives that have the most impact and that we can all support.

Madam Chair, there has been a great response from aboriginal groups and organizations to this additional funding. In fact, some 20 projects are now already under way. They include the expansion of the Canadian Red Cross project entitled “Walking the Prevention Circle”; the Campbell River victim services initiative, which will look at reporting and responding to victimization; and a new edition of the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia's resource booklet, entitled “Trust Your Instincts”.

Since 2007, the women's program alone has funded 50 projects to support aboriginal women, and these include great projects such as Grandmothers Helping in Life, which helped 369 women from various first nations communities address experiences of violence using traditional healing practices.

Another one is entitled “Aboriginal Women and Youth: Reclaiming our Power”. In Winnipeg, it works to increase aboriginal girls' leadership skills and personal resilience in order to live violence-free. The New Realities project in Winnipeg is also helping women to reduce family violence and problematic substance abuse and to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle.

In Quebec, the Corporation Wapikoni Mobile project is educating young women and girls in eight aboriginal communities about violence within their communities and how they can best respond to it.

In London, Ontario, the Girls Helping Girls project is enabling young women and girls to challenge the violence, threats of violence, and inequality that they encounter on a daily basis.

In Saskatchewan, the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services project will help women, particularly aboriginal women, access shelter services and other effective services for rural women.

As Minister for Status of Women, I am proud that our government continues to take strong action to ensure the safety and security of women and girls across Canada. We proudly support community groups that encourage women and girls of all backgrounds to reach for their dreams, to take advantage of our country's many opportunities, and to participate as active and equal members of their communities.

Thank you for your time today.

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you very much, Minister. You were well under 10 minutes, I might add.

Now I'd like to go to the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice, for 10 minutes, please.

March 1st, 2011 / 11:35 a.m.

Niagara Falls Ontario

Conservative

Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice

Thank you.

I'm pleased to be here with my colleague, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Status of Women. In addition, I'm pleased to be here with Lisa Hitch, who is a senior counsel with the Department of Justice.

I'm here today to provide information about the recent concrete action taken by the Government of Canada to address the disturbingly high number of missing and murdered aboriginal women. As you know, in last year's Speech from the Throne we recognized this pressing priority.

I was pleased that an additional $10 million was set aside in budget 2010 to address this important issue. On October 29 of last year, my colleague announced a number of concrete actions to support governments, aboriginal groups, law enforcement, and other stakeholders in tackling this issue.

Research conducted by the Native Women's Association of Canada during their five years of funding by the Government of Canada has highlighted the complex and interrelated set of factors that contribute to the high rates of violence facing aboriginal women and girls in Canada today.

The Government of Canada has already taken a number of steps to address some of these underlying factors, from the new federal framework for aboriginal economic development, the commitments as part of Canada's economic action plan to aboriginal skills training and employment, and budget 2010's investment in aboriginal health programs, to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada's family violence prevention program and CMHC's shelter enhancement programs on reserves, and many others.

But because this issue is important, involving an all too real tragedy for the women involved, for their families, for their children, and for their communities, the government wanted to consider how best to use the additional $10 million to achieve concrete action.

The concrete steps announced on October 29 of last year include: a new RCMP national police support centre for missing persons that will provide front-line police officers with more comprehensive information on missing persons across jurisdictions; amendments to the Criminal Code in Bill C-50, currently before the House, to improve the efficiency of investigations into serious crimes, including those that involve missing and murdered aboriginal women; support to the development of school- and community-based pilot projects to help provide alternatives to high-risk behaviour for young aboriginal women to reduce their vulnerability to violence; support for the provinces to develop or adapt culturally sensitive victim services for aboriginal people and for families of missing and murdered aboriginal women, and for the response of aboriginal community groups to the unique issues faced by the families at the community level.

They also include: support for the development of community safety plans to improve the safety of aboriginal women within their communities; support for the development of awareness materials on the importance of breaking intergenerational cycles of violence and abuse that threaten aboriginal communities across Canada; and developing a national compendium of promising practices in the areas of law enforcement, victim services, aboriginal community development, and violence reduction to help aboriginal communities and groups improve the safety of aboriginal women across the country.

I am pleased that there has been significant interest in the Department of Justice funds. As was indicated by my colleague, there are approximately 20 projects under way.

Madam Chair, the question of missing and murdered aboriginal women is of great importance not only to the government, but I'm sure to each and every member here. The government is moving forward to respond.

Again, I thank the committee for this opportunity to appear today.

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you very much, Minister.

Now we will begin our question and answer session. It begins with a seven-minute round—I'm sure that all of you know that—and those seven minutes include questions and answers.

I will begin with Ms. Neville for the Liberals.

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Ministers, thank you both very much for being here today. We've been waiting for this, and we're pleased to have you here.

As you know and as you've referenced, the committee has focused much of its work over the last while on issues related to violence against women. In particular, during the last Parliament we studied the issue of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and, as you know, we're looking at the issue of violence against aboriginal women. We've travelled extensively in the country and have seen an ugly underbelly that exists in this country and that many of us were quite shocked to realize the full extent of.

I'm pleased that you're both here, as you're both ministers responsible for government's policies related to violence against women. I have some particular questions, and because I have so many questions, I'd appreciate your keeping your answers brief to allow me to try to get through the questions.

In 2008 the House of Commons unanimously passed a motion calling on the government to develop and implement a national violence against women prevention strategy. Has the government done this? Is there a national violence against women prevention strategy?

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Rona Ambrose Conservative Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB

We have addressed the issue of violence against women in many ways. In the Status of Women department, we've made ending violence against women our number one priority. Interdepartmentally, we also have an initiative to ensure that the issues of domestic violence, human trafficking—

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

I don't want to be rude, Minister, but is there a strategy that has been developed, an actual strategy? I'm assuming that if it's there, you could table it with this committee today.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Rona Ambrose Conservative Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB

On the issue of murdered and missing aboriginal women, yes: a murdered and missing aboriginal strategy that was announced in October is a national strategy to address this issue.

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

What about a violence against women prevention strategy? That was the motion passed by the House in 2008.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Rona Ambrose Conservative Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB

As I said, the Status of Women department has made the issue of ending violence against women its number one priority. In terms of our national approach, we work not only with all provinces and territories on these issues but also with organizations in every order of government and with community organizations all across the country.

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

What I'm hearing, though, is that there is not a developed strategy, an organized strategy. There are initiatives, but not as part of a comprehensive strategy.

It's my understanding the government has also not prepared a national action plan on human trafficking, which makes Canada one of the few countries without a comprehensive blueprint for dealing with human trafficking. I've had the opportunity to travel internationally on this; I've heard from representatives of other countries.

Does such a plan exist in Canada?

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Rona Ambrose Conservative Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB

I think your question is very timely, because it is the issue that status of women ministers have been discussing. In fact, led by the Province of Manitoba, after a report was commissioned by the FPT ministers on this issue, there has been a great deal of work done, both in the provinces and in the federal government.

Our federal efforts to combat trafficking are coordinated and monitored now by an interdepartmental working group on trafficking in persons, which is co-chaired by the Departments of Justice Canada and Public Safety Canada. But there are a number of initiatives going on within those—

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Does a plan exist?

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Rona Ambrose Conservative Edmonton—Spruce Grove, AB

Yes, a plan exists, and I'll allow the Minister of Justice to also—

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Rob Nicholson Conservative Niagara Falls, ON

We're actually taking concrete action, as you know. In fact, one of your colleagues from Manitoba, Joy Smith, the member for Kildonan--St. Paul, introduced legislation that deals specifically with human trafficking. I'm very pleased that we're moving ahead. We're taking concrete action and--

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

That was for mandatory minimums, Minister.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Rob Nicholson Conservative Niagara Falls, ON

Pardon me?

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Is there a government plan?

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Rob Nicholson Conservative Niagara Falls, ON

The government plan is consistent with what I just indicated. We're taking action with respect to the Criminal Code and justice initiatives. These are our plans to deal with these--

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Could you table that plan with us, please?

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Rob Nicholson Conservative Niagara Falls, ON

You probably have already had Joy Smith's bill. Again, that's part of what we are doing on that. But it covers a whole wide range of areas within the Criminal Code, Madam Chair, in terms of better protecting individuals and better protecting victims.

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

My understanding is that hers dealt with mandatory minimums.

My question is to you, Mr. Nicholson. Do you think the recent ruling in Manitoba--which you I'm sure know well--is consistent with the manner in which such jurisprudence has evolved? I know, as you do, that since 1992 there has been no such thing as implied consent in Canadian law. Do you think the ruling we had, and that clearly shocked the women of Manitoba and women across the country, is consistent with the government's message on violence against women?

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Rob Nicholson Conservative Niagara Falls, ON

Again, I don't comment about cases, particularly cases within the appeal period. But with respect to the general question of standing up for women and standing up for victims in this country, we have been very consistent. We have taken the side of victims. That has been demonstrated across a wide range of legislative initiatives. Again, we don't tolerate violence against any individuals. We don't tolerate it against women. I know it was addressed by my colleague, but again, we're very careful about making any public comments within the 30-day period.

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

I appreciate that--