Finance Committee on Oct. 4th, 2017

[Jamie Cassels]

As we set out 10 to 15 years ago with our ambition of truly contributing to reconciliation and creating opportunities for indigenous students, we put in place a program of research to determine what types of interventions, programs, and supports would be most effective in ensuring the success of indigenous students. As a result of that research, we developed an elders program, a campus mentorship program, and as you suggested, a whole series of financial interventions. They were not hugely expensive financial interventions, but they were aimed at helping students through crisis situations so that they can return to community and then come back and resume their studies at an appropriate time.

We found that through a variety of those interventions we increased the success rate. There's no point in admitting students into a program if they're not going to succeed, so they need to be supported for success.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

I have a question for Ms. Napoleon.

It is very relevant that we teach law students—not just indigenous students, but all students— about the rights of Canada's indigenous peoples.

Could you tell the committee about what you are doing at the national level to encourage other law faculties to use or adopt the program you have established at the University of Victoria?

[Val Napoleon]

My colleague John Borrows and I have spent a number of years working with other faculties to provide short courses as well as courses on research methodologies. John, for instance, has just finished four short courses in Ontario and Quebec. We spend a lot of time supporting other faculties in developing the scope of expertise for their classes. For instance, we have developed a graphic novel on Cree criminal law, and the comprehensive teaching guide that accompanies it is used in every law school, as well as in faculties of social work.

Our videos are used in every law school. We have a gender tool kit for indigenous law that is used across the country. We spend a lot of energy provoking conversations and supporting them. The work we've done so far and the proposal for the indigenous law degree program is endorsed by other law schools. We have that national support. We also have funding support from the Law Foundation of Ontario, and we've had that for a number of years. Truly, there's a national perspective that we work with.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Chair, can we ask the University of Victoria to forward this information to the Clerk so that committee members can have access to it. I think it would be really useful.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

It's not a problem. I think you can do that. It's in the minutes, number one, and if you could just forward that information to the clerk we'll have it.

Unless somebody has a quick point they think they missed, I want to thank the witnesses for their presentations and their answers to questions.

We'll suspend for about five minutes and then go to the open mike. We only have a couple of people, I believe.

With that, we'll suspend for five minutes. Thank you again.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

We have a couple of people for the open mike. We have Fernande Pool and Celena Benndorf.

Both of you might as well come up to the table. I'm not sure who is who.

We'll start with Fernande Pool. Go ahead.

[Fernande Pool, As an Individual]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and my thanks to the committee.

I am Fernande Pool. I'm representing Oxfam here. Oxfam is calling on the government to include more women's rights organizations in the budget process by appointing an advisory council on gender budgeting to advise the Minister of Finance. We also want the parliamentary committee on finance to ensure that at least 15% of the witnesses in the pre-budget consultations represent women's rights organizations.

We are calling on the government to invest in the success of its feminist international assistance policy by committing year-on-year increases to Canada's international assistance envelope and to strengthen the women's rights movement here in Canada by investing $100 million annually in the Status of Women.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you very much. You made your point.

Celena.

[Celena Benndorf, As an Individual]

Thank you. I think I'm the second person you're hearing today from one.org.

Honourable members, today 130 million girls in the world's poorest countries are not in school, not because they don't want to be but because they are denied the right to be.

Why should we care about these girls? Of course, we care because they are our fellow human beings, but also because everything is connected. We are all connected. While helping these girls get an education, we'll improve their lives and the lives of those immediately around them. It will ultimately benefit all humanity, even Canadians.

Canada has the opportunity to change the fate of these girls. With just 2¢ per Canadian per day, we can lead the way to providing every child with an education. Every dollar invested in an additional year of schooling generates earnings and health benefits of approximately $10 in low-income countries.

Today we ask Canada to contribute to the financing of the Global Partnership for Education in 2018 so that it can help millions of girls get the education they deserve.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you both for your remarks. They will be noted in the minutes and duly considered. Thank you for taking the time.

With that, committee members, we will adjourn.