Mr. Chair, members of the committee, I am speaking to you from the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples in Vancouver.
On behalf of the Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne, or the AFFC, I want to thank the Standing Committee on Official Languages for inviting us to share our recommendations on the economic development of official language minority communities.
My name is Nour Enayeh, and I am the AFFC's president. Joining me today is our executive director, Soukaina Boutiyeb.
The AFFC is a non-profit feminist organization working to highlight the role and contribution of more than 1.3 million francophone and Acadian women in minority communities through education and advocacy. The AFFC is fortunate to have 15 member organizations.
This year, the action plan for official languages formally recognized women's crucial contribution to the development of official language minority communities. In particular, they ensure that francophone identity is passed on. Ongoing concrete investments in francophone and Acadian women are essential to recognize their contribution and support the economic development of our communities.
Our communities face many challenges. The rise in gender-based violence during the pandemic and the lack of any mention of the francophone community in the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence are troubling. The AFFC is also alarmed by the funding reality of our member organizations, which do not all receive core funding. Core funding is essential if they are to continue playing their role in the community.
In addition, francophone immigrant women have unique needs that immigration programs and services fail to take into account. Taking their specific circumstances into account would help francophone immigrant women not only integrate better, but also become more involved in social and economic life. In Canada, women make up 54% of caregivers, and they need access to French-language health care and services tailored to their realities.
Gender-based analysis plus, or GBA+, is meant to mitigate the impacts of government programs and services on the basis of the identity factors unique to each individual. In order to be fully effective, GBA+ should be undertaken comprehensively and results should be publicly available.
The AFFC has some recommendations for the committee to consider.
First, we recommend that the government earmark funding specifically for francophone and Acadian women's organizations, as part of the funding allocated by the various federal institutions.
Second, we recommend that the government provide specific core funding to all francophone and Acadian women's organizations in minority communities and invest $280 million over five years in the core funding allocated to Canada's francophone community.
Third, we recommend that the government undertake GBA+ in a more comprehensive manner and make the results publicly available.
Fourth, we recommend that the government uphold its commitment to gender equality and take the needs of francophone immigrant women into account in its immigration programs and services.
Fifth, we recommend that the government top up its investment to implement the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and earmark funding specifically for organizations representing francophone and Acadian women in minority communities.
Finally, we recommend that the government support francophone caregivers by investing in better access to services and resources.
Mr. Chair, members of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, thank you. Ms. Boutiyeb and I are available to answer your questions.