Status of Women Committee on Feb. 14th, 2007

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Could you make that available to us, Ms. Goulet?

[Nathalie Goulet]

I believe we already have.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

If people don't believe in achieving equality, nor do they believe in the importance of programs and advocacy groups that challenge the status quo, we will never be successful in resolving the conflict.

[Nathalie Goulet]

She could also read the new Quebec policy that sets out 63 specific steps and five major policy thrusts, 10 of which deal with the economic autonomy and equality of women.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Could you send a copy of that to Committee members and to the Minister?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you very much.

We will now go to Madam Mathyssen.

You have five more minutes, and this is the last question.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you very much. I'll try to make it count, Madam Chair.

We've heard a great deal about the cuts and the changes to the mandate of Status of Women.

Madam Toogood, you made a reference to being concerned about all the other cuts. And certainly when they happened in October, many of us were profoundly concerned.

I wonder if all of you could comment on the effects of that combination of cuts in terms of the reality of women, the equality of women, and the future of women in this country.

[Ardith Toogood]

It's hard to know where to begin because there have been so many cuts. I think one that is of huge significance is the whole child care issue and the fact that we don't have a pan-Canadian child care system.

There are the cuts to adult literacy, which again tie in with a person's economic possibilities--it doesn't matter if it's women or men. We know that people who can read and do well will earn more and will contribute more to the economy.

The cuts to the volunteer program.... It just goes on and on, and it all has an effect.

[Brenda Murphy]

Perhaps I could just speak to the cuts to the literacy program. I find it interesting that the new mandate for Status of Women Canada is to assist women so that they can fully participate in society, but if they're not able to read and write, it's very difficult to do that.

On the one hand, programs were cut that assist women so that they can fully participate in society, and then on the other hand, there's a program saying, “We want you to do something to help them”. There were two messages, I guess, that were being sent.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

The poverty that women face, particularly young women raising children, is compounded by these cuts, by this false economy we keep hearing about from the other side.

The issue of a national housing program, the lack of affordable housing, the fact that affordable housing has dried up in communities across Canada is of profound concern. I wonder, in terms of your individual experience, if you could comment on my favourite concern, and that is the need for a national housing program.

[Ardith Toogood]

We've had a policy on homelessness and housing for a long time. It's of great concern. It just ties in with the whole economic situation of women. It ties in with the lack of opportunity they have and the lack of advancement because of that. So yes, it's a huge concern.

[Brenda Murphy]

I'm also on the National Working Group on Women and Housing. Certainly we would like to see a national housing strategy.

We'd also like to see a strategy that addresses the specific needs of women living in poverty, because women leaving abusive situations and so on need housing that may be more unique than just the average person. We don't see that in Canada and we need to have that. It's quite critical, I think.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

We keep hearing over and over again from the minister and from this government that women have achieved equality. You made reference to the lack of opportunity, the lack of economic equity.

In terms of this committee, what advice can you give us in terms of our priorities? What should we do so that women no longer are faced with the choice between staying in an abusive home or escaping and having the ability to live a life that's filled with joy instead of fear?

[Ardith Toogood]

I think the very first thing you have to do is make sure that equality gets back into the mandate of Status of Women, to strengthen it, because it really is the essence of that program. That, I would say, is number one.

Number two is to keep supporting the groups, through the women's program, that look into these programs we're talking about, to look into what's going on underneath, because what's happening now is the social fabric that was holding up society is being slashed and people are falling through. It becomes very difficult to go down there and try to haul them back up again. What we need to do is sew up the rips instead of making more, and that elevates a society.

Those would be my two priorities.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you very much.

I would like to thank the panel for coming in and giving us of your time and your knowledge. I'm sorry that these things are so short, but we have another panel after you. What I'd like to do is give you each one minute for wrap-up.

Ms. Goulet.

[Nathalie Goulet]

I referred earlier to the four priority demands we had passed on to the Minister, and now I would like to speak straight from the heart.

Our organization will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and yet, it is in a climate of tremendous uncertainty that we approach our work in the coming years. At the same time, we are in great demand by our provincial government, which is encouraging to continue to play an active role in issues related to women's economic independence and equality.

We will no longer be able to do that, however, because our organization, our projects and our policy work no longer jibe with the Program's objectives. This is a very serious and deep concern for us. In Quebec, within the women's movement, our group is the only one that is involved in labour-related issues. So, it's very serious.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you.

Ms. Toogood.

[Ardith Toogood]

I think it is very important for all of you to keep the issue hot in the House. If the issue is kept suppressed and the grassroots out there are not getting the message, either through the media or through you, it will die. So it's very important. You all have a role to play to make this happen. We're talking about 52% of the population here, not small potatoes.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you.

Ms. Murphy.

[Brenda Murphy]

I would just ask that you strongly urge the government to go back to including women's equality in the mandate of the Status of Women to allow groups to receive funding and continue to advocate for changes so that women can fully participate in society in our country.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you.

Thank you to the panel again, and have a safe journey home.

Members of the committee, the meeting is adjourned for two minutes while the panel changes over and the clerks finish doing what they have to do.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Ladies and gentlemen, members of the committee, we have three panellists, one of whom has come from Yukon. I'd like to acknowledge that; it took her three days to get here.

Thank you so much. You must be really dedicated to be here.

Unfortunately, I'll stick with the rule that it's five minutes for each presentation.

I'd like you to know that we have your briefs, so if you want to add value by adding what you think, that should be more than what you've given us. That would be better, and it will allow you more interaction with the members of the committee.

Members of the committee, we're going to stick with five minutes, so that each party gets two rounds. That will be fair.

We have votes at 5:45, so we will be on a tight schedule.

Ms. Hrenchuk, would you like to start?

[Charlotte Hrenchuk, Coordinator, Yukon Status of Women Council]

Thank you.

It took me only one day to get here, not three. It felt like three, though, with the time changes.

First of all, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to present the views of Yukon women to your committee. It is not often that Yukon women have a chance to participate directly in national consultations. I'm here on behalf of my organization, the Yukon Status of Women Council, which is a small non-profit, and my sister organizations in the Yukon.

The situation of women's lives north of 60 is a world apart from life in the south--economically, socially, and culturally. Isolation, a harsh climate, lack of resources, the high cost of living, a high rate of social issues, limited opportunities for employment, and the legacy of residential schools and colonization affect all aspects of all women's lives, first nation and non-first nation.

Twenty-three percent of our population is aboriginal, compared to 3.3% for Canada. In the other territories, this number is much higher. The legacy of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of aboriginal women, as well as cultural alienation and lack of respect, is greater in the north. Consequently, rates of spousal abuse, homicide, and sexual assault are higher for aboriginal women. As well, aboriginal women live with inequities under the Indian Act. This is not equality.

Yukon women are 2.9 times more likely to experience sexual abuse and are more likely to be killed by a spouse. The income gap is widening, with single mothers the most affected. Poverty in the Yukon is increasing. More women and children are accessing soup kitchens and emergency food banks. We don't even have a regular food bank. Women and children's homelessness is on the rise in our hostile environment. This is not equality.

The Yukon Status of Women provides a voice for Yukon women. We raise issues and form coalitions to act on behalf of women. We have the ability to speak to and represent women's issues. We provide data and information as well as policy analysis to other organizations and governments. The Yukon Status of Women Council has just completed a pan-territorial participatory research project on women's homelessness in the north in conjunction with colleagues in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

No such research had been conducted to date. Homeless women, the most marginalized in our society, told me this was the first time anyone sought their stories and gave credence to their experiences. They asked us to work for changes to the determinants that keep them trapped in cycles of poverty and homelessness. They asked us to make their voices heard and help them create change.

In order to do this, we need data. We need to be able to do research. There is very little data available on the north. The north is consistently left out of national studies. We are told that our numbers are so low that we have little statistical significance. We don't count. Then we are told that we have no data to support the need for more women's shelters, for low-income housing, for training programs, or for changes to public policy that would put more resources in women's pockets or give tenants some rights.

So we need to be able to conduct research locally using local researchers, but Status of Women Canada will no longer fund independent research. Sending southern researchers north is costly and inefficient and ineffective. They do not know the issues, the people, and the history. The message northern women are hearing is that the government no longer wants to fund research because they don't want to know about the inequities of our lives.

Policy work creates positive change for women. The Yukon Status of Women Council worked with local women's organizations and the Yukon Housing Corporation to create a priority housing policy for women fleeing abusive relationships. That means women and children now have an option other than returning to their abuser. This is making a real difference in Yukon women's lives.

Our work on raising social assistance rates will make a real difference in the choice many women face daily of paying the rent or feeding their children.

The cuts to the administrative budget will affect us drastically. We have a longstanding relationship with the Vancouver office. They understand our realities and have consistently given timely assistance.

Continuity and history will be lost, and we will have to compete with the Northwest Territories, the prairie provinces, and British Columbia for the scarce resource of program officers' time and assistance.

The website is not a friendly tool for women living in Beaver Creek, or those without a computer, of whom there are many in the north.

Regional representation is important; witness the parliamentary system. Centralization further isolates and marginalizes northern women. Yukon women are few in number, and they are a varied population with huge problems and high needs.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you.

I'll have to stop you because otherwise others won't get time. You will have an opportunity in questions and answers and in the wrap-up comments.

Ms. Watson, you have five minutes.

[Gail Watson, Coordinator, Women's Health Clinic]

Thank you very much for the opportunity to present our views here today.

I'm with the Women's Health Clinic. It's a non-profit community health centre in Winnipeg that's based on the principles of feminism, equity, and diversity.

Since April 2001, the Women's Health Clinic has benefited from Status of Women Canada funding for an educational and policy change project that was aimed at decreasing income equities by educating the public about the impact income inequities and social exclusion have on women's health. This project has been very successful in making changes that would not have been possible without the ability to do research, to advocate, to lobby for policy change, and to build the capacity of low-income women.

Let me specifically address some of these proposed changes.

First I'll speak on the need for research. A research report for this project was the basic foundation that started the project. Poverty is hazardous to women’s health. The research showed that poverty was in fact hazardous to women's health, and it validated why society needs to consider policy change to reduce poverty if we wish to reduce health care costs. The educational and media efforts utilized the research information to inform the general public of the impact of poverty on health care budgets and to advocate, to government, for specific policy changes.

The ability to use Status of Women funding to do research on issues of significance to women and to develop advocacy and public education programs based on the evidence is critical. Research informs society on emerging issues, and it's necessary in the development of public policy.

Second is the need to advocate for women’s equality. At every age and stage of life, we know there are more poor women than there are poor men. The link between poverty, social exclusion, low income, and health status, plus the increasing feminization of poverty, highlights the failure of public policy to take women into account. The ability to use Status of Women funding to lobby and advocate for policy change is essential.

Here is an example of some of the advocacy we've done. Because the majority of minimum wage earners in Manitoba are women, we founded the Minimum Wage Coalition. Since 2002 we have presented briefs and petitions and have held rallies to support an increase in the minimum wage. Due to the efforts of the coalition, the minimum wage in Manitoba increased. It was at $6.50 per hour when we started, and by April 2007 it's going to go to $8. That took a lot of effort in the advocacy and policy change arena.

Other outcomes of the advocacy efforts include the elimination in Manitoba of the child tax benefit clawback, a housing benefit provided to disabled individuals, and some gender analysis done in the provincial budget process. We've seen an increase in child care spaces, and we have a provincial commitment to review child care subsidy levels. And there are efforts to improve housing for low-income families.

Finally, there is the need to build the capacity of women. Women who experience poverty and inequality rarely have any opportunity to participate in shaping the programs or policies that affect and influence their lives. Validating their knowledge, experience, and stories, plus involving them in developing the recommendations for policy change, is very powerful, both for the outcomes of the policy change and for their own self-esteem and confidence.

Before I close, I want to address the reduction in the administrative budget of Status of Women Canada. The Women’s Health Clinic has appreciated the support of the regional representatives of Status of Women located in Winnipeg and in Edmonton. They have linked us to helpful research and information and to individuals who are working on projects with similar goals in Manitoba and Canada.

This has been most useful to us, and it needs to be recognized as a very valuable component of the success of the Status of Women money.