Evidence of meeting #19 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was women.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Paulette Senior  President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Women's Foundation
Angela Bonfanti  Senior Vice-President, Foundation Programs, Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Marie-France Lafleur
Elizabeth Cahill  Committee Researcher

2:20 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Women's Foundation

Paulette Senior

That's a great question. I think it's critical as we look at the measures that are needed to make sure that we can finally have pay equity as an important measure in Canada....

However, there also are other wrongs, such as child care. Now we know that child care is good for everyone, not just for women, but for everyone. As we think about recovery, then we also need to consider the importance of ensuring that child care is available and that it's affordable and accessible, all of the things we've been saying for decades now. It's to make sure that it's available to all in Canada who need it. I think it's important that we think about all of the critical structural measures that need to be in place to support a healthy and strong economic recovery.

2:25 p.m.

Bloc

Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC

I agree with you completely. In Quebec, we have understood the importance of child care. We have child care. I hope it will be taken into account if we talk about it again. In Quebec, it is already done, it is already part of how we operate.

I will now turn to the current crisis. As you said, many workers were often underpaid, especially women. In fact, most underpaid workers are often female.

Do you feel that recognizing that could lead to a reassessment of certain working conditions, as is the case for healthcare workers in Quebec, and to a reflection on the way in which essential worker positions are valued? We say they are essential workers, but they are often underpaid, much like women.

Is reconsidering their value really important?

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

I'd like a short answer, please. We're out of time.

2:25 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Women's Foundation

Paulette Senior

This is a truly unique opportunity we have before us in Canada today. I agree that it's clearly and primarily women who are underpaid. We're even seeing it during this particular time. It's women who have been most impacted, because they've lost the most jobs. In fact, 58% of folks who have lost their jobs happen to be women. Moreover, the women in underpaid jobs are not just women, but racialized women, immigrant women and women with disabilities.

All of these particular aspects need to be considered as we think through the recovery from the pandemic.

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Thank you, Ms. Larouche.

Thank you, Ms. Senior.

Next we're going to Ms. Kwan, for six minutes, please.

2:25 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the witnesses for agreeing to come back so we can engage in this dialogue.

Ms. Senior, I'd like to ask about the $10 million the federal government offered to support women's organizations.

Some weeks ago, we had the Battered Women's Support Services before our committee. Angela MacDougall indicated that they did not receive any funding from the federal government, yet their organization was absolutely slammed with an increase in calls. We need to support women who are faced with violence issues.

Would that $10 million go to organizations like the Battered Women's Support Services?

2:25 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Women's Foundation

Paulette Senior

Absolutely. We received funds last week. We sent out notifications to organizations that they need to fill out the registration form. We have begun to receive those registration forms. On Friday we received close to 80. Those forms need to be completed and sent to us, and then we will subsequently wire the funds. There should be very little delay in their receiving the funds, along with hundreds of other organizations in the country.

2:25 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

One of the issues that were raised was that the $10 million is going to be deficient, given the need out there. It was suggested that we should increase the amount to at least $20 million. What are your thoughts on the amount?

2:25 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Women's Foundation

Paulette Senior

A lot of effort has been made to ensure that, in this particular round of the $10 million, they're getting close to the same amount as the sexual assault centres and the shelters, which is around $25,000 each.

I agree with you that this is a low amount. It's certainly not enough, and it's really only about immediate needs. For BWSS and the Assaulted Women's Helpline here in Toronto, it really is a drop in the bucket. Everyone we've spoken with realizes that, but it's very much welcome.

More is needed, and after speaking with some of the folks at WAGE, I know they've been working hard to add additional dollars to the $10 million.

2:25 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

You talked about the programs that need to be in place going forward and that a number of things are needed for women's organizations. As an example, one of the issues that came up, which has been an issue for years and years, is core funding for organizations. Would that be something you recommend?

2:30 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Women's Foundation

Paulette Senior

Beyond a doubt it is definitely needed. We know, for example, that for organizations that have been responding and providing programs and services to keep women safe in this country from issues of gender-based violence, this is a $7.4-billion problem, based on the numbers I heard the last time I checked, in terms of the funding that's required, and also for the responses from hospitals and other kinds of services that need to respond.

Therefore, we need to be able to respond, both similarly and robustly, with the funding the sector needs. We support that. It's important to provide core funding to these organizations so that they don't have to spend all of their time, energy and resources continually applying for more and more project funding.

2:30 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

Thank you.

As you mentioned, if there's anything positive that we can take out of this pandemic, it is to plan ahead, and this is our opportunity to do so. Regarding investment into the future and for women in particular, racialized women, low-income earners, immigrant women, etc., dealing with the issue of universal child care and making a national program would be essential, along with ensuring that people are housed in safe, secure and affordable housing.

I'm wondering about women's support. What would you say are the top three priorities the government should focus on with respect to a national stimulus program in support of women and minority women?

2:30 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Women's Foundation

Paulette Senior

In 2008 the stimulus package that was provided was mainly about what I would call blue-collar jobs. That was appropriate then even though we still didn't get enough funding to actually respond to women's needs.

The impact this time around has really been primarily on women, and particularly women who are earning under $15 an hour. I think it's important to look at really understanding the importance of a living wage as well as looking at what essential work is and actually paying people accordingly.

Pay equity is critical as part of that. Child care is an important rung as well, as is addressing gender-based violence. Those are the three that would be critical in that area.

2:30 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

Would you support something like a universal direct payment for all?

2:30 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Women's Foundation

Paulette Senior

I think it's certainly something worth having more conversations about to see what it would look like. I'm not an economist, so I can't speak to the particular details around it, but I think it is worth having conversations about it, because it would ensure the least among us are able to actually have the safe support they need so they're not left to the whims of what happens in the economy or whether organizations are able to get enough money to provide those supports.

It's worth having further conversations around what would best fit our own needs in Canada.

2:30 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

Thank you.

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Thank you, Ms. Senior.

Thank you, Ms. Kwan.

Next we're going to go Ms. Falk.

Go ahead, please, for five minutes.

2:30 p.m.

Conservative

Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK

Thank you, Chair.

I would also like to thank our witnesses for their previous testimony and welcome them back to the HUMA committee.

I just want to mention for the record that the bill the Liberal members on this committee are referring to that was presented last week was an omnibus bill. I was very disappointed when the Conservatives' motion to reconvene Parliament to consider the government's legislation was rejected. I, as well as my Conservative colleagues, am ready every single day to return to Parliament to do the full scope of work that Canadians have elected us to do.

My first question is for Angela Bonfanti with CNIB. I know that CNIB has put forward a list of recommendations to improve accessibility to existing supports, particularly around the Canada emergency response benefit. As has been mentioned already in this meeting, months into this crisis the Prime Minister has announced some supports for persons with disabilities, but unfortunately needs—and we know this—don't wait for these supports to become available. The government is now playing catch-up in this area.

I'm just wondering if you can speak to the importance of flexibility in designing these relief measures and the importance of having an accessibility lens from the outset in creating government programs.

2:35 p.m.

Senior Vice-President, Foundation Programs, Canadian National Institute for the Blind

Angela Bonfanti

I'm happy to answer that question, Ms. Falk.

2:35 p.m.

Conservative

Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK

Thank you.

2:35 p.m.

Senior Vice-President, Foundation Programs, Canadian National Institute for the Blind

Angela Bonfanti

It's really important for us to talk about the fact that this is not a one-pronged approach. The stimulus is a great first step for individuals. We also need to be talking about accessibility and inclusion from the legislative side of things. We also need to be talking about employers and the incentivization to help ensure that people with disabilities continue to join the workforce as we go.

We were very vocal throughout the development of Bill C-81 around nothing for us without us, and I think that needs to be very much at the helm of anything that is decided by way of managing the pandemic moving forward for this particular group of the community.

Also, there are roughly 90,000 registered Canadian charities out there. Paulette and I are two of many. However, there are few of us that deal directly with Canada's most vulnerable. I believe there is still an opportunity to prioritize any further stimulus for charities dealing with Canadians in difficult situations directly and to look at a potentially long-term support that is scalable so we can catch up with our revenues as we move forward.

2:35 p.m.

Conservative

Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK

Thank you.

During the study of Bill C-81 in the previous Parliament, we heard repeatedly about the importance of the accessibility lens when government programs are being created, as well as the importance of plain-language communications. The point was well made, I think, that all Canadians benefit from greater accessibility. Certainly, in the area of plain language we can see how it would have improved the government's response, as so many Canadians are now being required to pay back CERB.

A lot of the testimony we've heard has underscored, in my view, how far we are from achieving an accessible Canada. Can you speak to the opportunities for the government to help ensure an accessible Canada in its ongoing response to COVID-19 and, as a learning opportunity, where the government may have missed the mark on it?

2:35 p.m.

Senior Vice-President, Foundation Programs, Canadian National Institute for the Blind

Angela Bonfanti

I certainly believe there are some elements, including a number of groups of individuals with disabilities. The name of the committee escapes me right now, but my colleague Diane Bergeron sits with Carla Qualtrough on this one committee. So more of that inclusion....

I do agree; I think there was a lot of confusion around the various programs. I think when you peel back another layer and you look at provinces and accessibility to provincial information, and then you peel another layer down and go to the municipality, if all of them aren't working in unison and have that commitment to accessibility, it really makes the piece baseless. I think that's our message. If accessibility and inclusion are at the helm, regardless of whether it's a stand-alone federal government program or it impacts other jurisdictions, we really need to be thinking about that person first.

Yes, the easy flow of information really makes a difference for many Canadians, and not just those living with sight loss. While I think there was a lot of information, and we didn't know what we didn't know, organizations like CNIB have certainly helped those individuals who identify with sight loss to navigate it. That's why we developed over 350 new virtual programs, many of them dedicated to helping people understand what this means for them and what support is out there, one-on-one and in group settings.

We understand that the government can't do it alone. We're here to help. Again, we work directly with those individuals to make sure that if they have questions or they have needs, we are one of the organizations that will help them navigate through these very difficult times.

2:35 p.m.

Conservative

Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK

Wonderful. Thank you.

2:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Thank you, Ms. Bonfanti and Ms. Falk.

Ms. Young, you have five minutes, please.