Evidence of meeting #30 for Status of Women in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Eva Nassif Liberal Vimy, QC
I actually have another question.
One witness told the committee that more research was needed on the subject of sexual assault in Canada.
Do you agree?
If so, how can such research be funded, publicized, and shared?
That question is for you, Ms. Ricci.
5:10 p.m.
Researcher, Université du Québec à Montréal, Coresearcher Enquête ESSIMU, As an Individual
We think it's imperative that research on sexual violence continue. I have noticed that the research being done on sexual violence is mainly empirical, in other words, focusing on intervention, victim assistance, victim accounts, and so forth.
The fact of the matter is that hardly any research examines the subject from a theoretical standpoint, in order to better understand or identify what's at play. For instance, very little research has been done on the much-discussed issue of rape culture. I believe that's an area worthy of study. I sound as though I am speaking for my own bailiwick.
Perhaps Ms. Bergeron would care to add something about the research.
5:10 p.m.
Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal, Senior Researcher, Enquête ESSIMU, As an Individual
Yes. I think it's crucial to encourage the evaluation of programs and practices in place around the country and to share information on those that are the most promising. Up to now, universities have been working in silos, but I think it's time to share good programs with one another.
I think program evaluation would be one way for the federal government to support intervention. It involves putting programs in place, but, above all, evaluating them in order to identify what they are doing well.
5:10 p.m.
Researcher, Université du Québec à Montréal, Coresearcher Enquête ESSIMU, As an Individual
I just want to add, if I may, how incredibly important it is to raise awareness around this issue. Doing that means educating people, all the stakeholders, from decision-makers to the public, about the terminology.
That's another aspect that's often challenging. Sometimes we are criticized for using definitions of sexual violence that are too broad and inclusive of too many behaviours. It is therefore necessary to do research to get the stakeholders to truly understand that sexual assaults are not just physical attacks. They include harassment, comments that are sexist or have sexual undertones, pressure such as blackmail or manipulation in exchange for sex, and other acts that fall on the continuum of violence. It's important to shine a light on the problematic nature of these types of behaviours, which are downplayed in society. I think research to that end is necessary.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Eva Nassif Liberal Vimy, QC
Very good. My next question is for Ms. Bergeron.
What services are required following a sexual assault, both immediately and in the long term? Can you describe the availability and accessibility of those services across Canada?
5:10 p.m.
Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal, Senior Researcher, Enquête ESSIMU, As an Individual
Yes. I can talk about the situation as it relates to Quebec, specifically. Our colleagues can describe what goes on in their region.
It requires major investments. Here, in Quebec, we have the Regroupement québécois des CALACS, an organization that brings together some 40 sexual assault help centres, or CALACS. Some of those centres, however, have long waiting lists. It can take up to a year or a year and a half for someone to access support. What we, at the university, do when female students come to us seeking support services is refer them to the CALACS, which have 40 years of expertise behind them, after all. It's necessary, then, to rely on these organizations, whose experience has been built up over many years. We refer those students to the CALACS, where they wind up on waiting lists up to a year long. Therefore, from an accessibility standpoint, efforts and investments are certainly needed to ensure victims receive timely support. That is a priority accessibility-wise.
I appreciate your question because it gives me an opportunity to reiterate where the major needs lie. Demand has gone up in recent years, but funding has not necessarily kept pace.
When someone has been sexually assaulted on a university campus, what they need most is to feel that the focus is on them. Much of the emphasis is placed on discussing the victim's legal options, helping her file a complaint, and guiding her through the process. Yes, it's important to make it safe for her to file a complaint, if that is indeed what she wants to do, but I think what she needs most is to feel supported, believed, and looked after quickly.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
I'm sorry, but your time is up.
We're going now to Ms. Vecchio for seven minutes.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Thank you very much to both sets of groups for coming out today.
I'd like to start off with group one. You noted there were three things that you felt the federal government should work on to coordinate measurements, but one thing you noted was about coordinating regional outreach to help women who protect their abusers. What were some of those key reasons that women would protect their abusers?
I assume there's going to be a difference between people who are mothers, who have children, versus people who are in the academic environment. Can you share a little information on that for me?
5:15 p.m.
Manager Consultant, Collectivité ingénieuse de la Péninsule acadienne
Yes, thank you.
In universities, it seems to be much more common for assaults to go unmentioned and unreported. At the regional level, we hear a lot more about domestic and family violence. The stakeholders are much more active. On university and college campuses, however, the mentality seems to be that, even though an assault occurred, it doesn't go any further. Assaults are never reported, or almost never. As I said, they go unmentioned.
My Quebec counterparts were talking earlier about the need for support in the regions, and this ties into that. A number of years ago, an initial response support system was put in place, a community support mechanism for women by women, and we saw that it worked very well. I think we need a similar system in universities and colleges.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Carrying on, Rachael brought this up—sex for services. The reason I want to go on to this little aside is that we talk about hypersexuality, but we also talk about women being able to be sexualized and feeling that they are allowed to be that, and that there shouldn't be any barriers for that, yet we see that sex for services is a negative.
This might sound crazy of me, but where is the difference between hypersexuality and empowerment versus when it becomes a sexual assault or a miscue? When does it cross that line between what a person is choosing to do and what it has now created?
Do you know what I'm saying? I look at this as probably being a mental state, where a person at one time is doing something and is thinking that they're empowering themselves through their sexuality. When does it turn into being a negative for a woman?
5:15 p.m.
Manager Consultant, Collectivité ingénieuse de la Péninsule acadienne
The issue is very delicate.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
5:15 p.m.
Manager Consultant, Collectivité ingénieuse de la Péninsule acadienne
The issue is still delicate. Even in cases of hypersexualization, there's no justification for a person becoming a victim.
I have trouble making a link with violence, because even though girls are hypersexualized, boys are hypersexualized as well.
I have trouble determining when it becomes negative. The issue is still a matter of culture or education and of knowing what is appropriate and what is not. Maybe we should start with reviewing our way of educating both girls and boys on how to express their sexuality.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
I appreciate that. It's just that I think that one of the things that we find difficult is when it becomes empowering yourself as a sexual being and then losing that empowerment and becoming the person in whom men may see as someone they have the right to violate. I think that's part of the question that I have. It is a very difficult question.
Maybe you could tell me exactly what these services are that you're referring to that women would provide, and in order to get what? Just be a bit more open.
5:20 p.m.
Manager Consultant, Collectivité ingénieuse de la Péninsule acadienne
Is the question still for me?
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
5:20 p.m.
Manager Consultant, Collectivité ingénieuse de la Péninsule acadienne
I was referring to a service involving women supporting other women. It wasn't an official service.
The victim is not always ready, especially right after the act of violence, to use a public service. She prefers a much more intimate and personal type of support. She also prefers a community and volunteer support network. That's what I meant by women supporting other women.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
Thank you.
Ms. Damoff, you now have five minutes for the last questions.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
Thank you. I'm going to try to share my time with Ms. Ludwig.
I'm going to focus on the ladies doing the research in Montreal. You mentioned that there were two types that you had seen, one from another student and one from a professor. What's the prevalence of each? I hope that's clear.
5:20 p.m.
Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal, Senior Researcher, Enquête ESSIMU, As an Individual
Yes, that's completely clear.
The most frequently reported situation is when female students are the victims of male students at the university. That type of case is the most frequent and the most represented in studies. Another frequently reported situation is when the victim is a student and the attacker is a professor.
We will find the numbers, if you want. They will be in the report. But in terms of frequency, if the victim is a student and if she has—
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
Excuse me. Okay. We'll wait for the report, then. Okay.
Do you find that there are needs for some kind of consistency the federal government could provide in terms of encouraging universities and colleges to have sexual assault programs and services? It seems to very much be a broad range from campus to campus.
Is there a role that you could see the federal government playing in that?
5:20 p.m.
Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal, Senior Researcher, Enquête ESSIMU, As an Individual
Yes, completely. We think it's an excellent idea for the federal government to take a leadership role in that regard, because the universities operate in silos. Best practices are in place in anglophone universities, in western Canada, that should absolutely be shared. I'm not exactly sure which structure should be adopted. However, the structure must include not only the presidents, the people in charge of the universities and the professors, but everyone, especially the students.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal