Justice committee  Over the last 20 years, regardless of the government's political affiliation, in the case of all bills to which amendments were being made, there was never enough time to discuss the issue of aboriginal women. The situation is the same when it comes to Bill C-36. We have been developing an expertise in this field since 1974.

Justice committee  Thank you very much. I have a question for all of us right now, and for those who are listening. How many pimps, johns, and buyers in the sex industry are criminalized right now? How many of them? We know that 90% of them are men. How many of those men are criminalized? When we reverse the question for the women, and aboriginal women—I think Kim Pate can confirm this—we know that we are the ones who are criminalized right now, so with this legislation we will reverse that hopefully.

Justice committee  I'll try in English. I have always said since day one when I was elected the president of NWAC that I am not the national voice, but I'm the tool. I'm the person who walks beside and with the women. I don't know everybody. Not everybody knows me, so it's tough to say that I represent all of NWAC, as president.

Justice committee  I think it is important that you give us an opportunity to express our opinion. We have to do a lot of prevention. As you know, prostitution is a product of a colonial system. The same goes for murdered and missing women, and the high rate of violence. To be proactive through this bill or through administrative measures, the government should make sure that the Native Women's Association of Canada and the Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Association can have this dialogue with various departments.

Justice committee  That is a question you should put to your colleagues.

Justice committee  What can I say, aboriginals are visual people. So I will translate orally. To answer your question, I would say that the bill does not specifically refer to aboriginals. You and your colleagues from the Conservative government still have the power to make sure that it does. Otherwise, we will hunt you, and remind you that we're so alive.

Justice committee  I think we have a great opportunity here. Yes, Canadian women are facing this and making great presentations to the committee. Yes, in Canada aboriginal women are so alive, so proud, but so resilient, that now you have the chance to make sure that real action will also specifically be toward aboriginal women.

Justice committee  I'm allowed to say that.

Justice committee  You gained some feathers with your family.

Justice committee  If I may, I will answer the question in French because I am not very familiar with the jargon used in English in this field. I would say that the bill you are introducing is not perfect. Let's be honest. I think that criminalizing people who are involved in the sex industry is a huge step.

Justice committee  I really like Françoise's question. Your name is Françoise, right?

Justice committee  I have been involved in politics with aboriginal women for 20 years. Unless I am mistaken, since 2006, the Conservative approach has been all or nothing. It's difficult to have something in between the two extremes. However, we have approached the Minister of Justice, Mr. MacKay, knowing that the Conservatives were fully and clearly refusing to launch a national public inquiry.

Justice committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. [Witness speaks in her native language.] I want to thank the Anishnabe nation for welcoming us on its territory, which is now shared. I will deliver part of my presentation in French, and then I will continue in “franglais” and English. Good afternoon, everyone.

Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  Just as a response to the previous speaker from Mississauga, le député de Mississauga, I'm touched. I can feel that you are sincere, really sincere, and I'm glad, but I'll stick and stay with my position that if NWAC doesn't see something so that we feel we're a real partner, and that will go for you, Madame la députée libérale, Madame Sgro....

Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  [The witness speaks in her native language] Thank you very much, Romeo. My dear committee members, our friend Romeo Saganash has just said something very important. I am not criticizing those of you around that table, I am criticizing a system, a structure. Members of all committees have their hands tied by their political parties.