Status of Women Committee on Feb. 5th, 2008

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

Thank you.

I have another question, Minister.

I have a letter here that I received in November in response to a number of access to information requests I made in June of last year. The letter indicates that as a result of the review in SWC, and the cuts--the $5 million in efficiency savings--the staff has been reduced. As a result, there aren't enough people to do the work. Only one staff member is available to respond to access to information requests.

You know, Minister, that these requests must be responded to within 30 days. By virtue of the fact that I didn't receive a response, and there seems to be understaffing there, I'm quite concerned about some of the other tasks that are required by law to be performed by SWC.

Are you having trouble coping with the problems with the work that SWC needs to do?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Thank you for your question. Ms. Beckton may want to add something. It's important to realize that this is a year of change, transition and renewal for Status of Women Canada. Having said that, Status of Women Canada has hired one employee and set aside additional resources for work relating to access to information and privacy.

Ms. Beckton, please.

[Clare Beckton]

In addition to hiring an additional resource, we have hired a consultant who is a specialist in the area to help us catch up, because there was a backlog. As we explained earlier, there has been a huge increase in demand over the last couple of years. We are in a position now to start catching up and getting on top of this.

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

When do you anticipate that you'll have met the obligations? When will the backlog be cleared?

[Clare Beckton]

I wouldn't want to give you an exact date, but I'm hoping that within the next three to six months we'll have all the backlog cleared.

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

Thank you.

Minister, I also had the opportunity to see another ATI request. It showed that Status of Women Canada recommended to Minister Oda that the existing terms and conditions of the women's program be renewed. Yet those conditions and terms, as we know, were significantly altered.

Can you comment on why the decision was made to change the mandate and alter the conditions against the advice of your staff, the bureaucracy?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Ms. Mathyssen, I will let the minister keep that question because the time is up and we are running short.

Minister, you can answer that question in the next round.

Ms. Neville, for five minutes.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Thank you very much.

Minister, thank you very much for coming here this morning.

I must confess I'm having some difficulty following what I believe to be wordsmithing around the word “equality”. I need some clarity. Well, I have two lines of questioning, but I need some clarity.

Is the Status of Women program, the overall program, now dedicated to advancing the equality of women in Canada? And does that mean that organizations such as Women and the Law will now receive funding? Will it mean that organizations that have had their funding cut because they advocate on behalf of women's equality in a whole host of areas will receive funding? That's my first line of questioning.

We've looked at your website. There was an objection because we were looking at our BlackBerrys, but we were looking at your website. Quite frankly, we found one insertion, but only one insertion there. So I'm fearful we're being wordsmithed somewhat here, as are the groups that are applying for funding in the field. I'm hearing from them about the wordsmithing they're having to do in order to access funding. I find the whole process somewhat duplicitous and misleading.

My other line of questioning--which I want to get on the record before my time runs out--is that you've frequently referenced international organizations here, such as the UN and your work internationally. When we were studying the impact of the court challenges program, we were commenting on CEDAW. We heard from REAL Women that CEDAW is not to be taken seriously and that we shouldn't pay attention to what CEDAW says. I'd like to know whether you believe that we do have obligations to CEDAW.

In the election campaign, the Prime Minister--as I'm sure you're aware--signed the CEDAW pledge, which we believe has not been honoured. So I'd like to know whether you agree with REAL Women and if that's why it has not been honoured.

As an aside, I'd like to know whether REAL Women has received funding from your program.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

There were several questions there, which I will try to answer as best I can.

As regards the mandate of Status of Women Canada's Women's Program, I have reviewed and updated it, and included the word “equality”. Groups with concrete projects whose specific goal is to help women can apply for funding. Funds are available.

With respect to the group you mentioned, I know that it received funding last year to carry out a specific project. However, Ms. Beckton tells me that it did not apply for funding this year.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Madam Minister, they haven't made any funding proposal because they were forced to close their doors for lack of funding. That's why they haven't made any proposal.

I guess what I'm looking for is to know what the role of advocacy is within the mandate of Status of Women, because I'm not hearing it from you. I'm really hearing a playing with words in order to incorporate the word “equality” into your presentation.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

What is important for our government is most certainly to assist women whose needs relate to their economic security, and to ensure that they can also aspire to economic prosperity.

As you know, we increased the budget for the Women's Program, and it is now at its highest level in many years. The amount we have provided in terms of additional funding is almost double. That will allow organizations to develop projects that will provide direct and concrete assistance to women.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you, Minister.

We now go to Mr. Stanton for five minutes.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

No, it's Ms. Nina and then Mr. Norlock.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

I'm sorry.

Ms. Grewal.

[Nina Grewal, Conservative, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for your presentation.

Minister, could you please tell us what the strategy of the Government of Canada is to help women?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Thank you for your question.

Our government pledged to promote women's equality, as well as their full participation in the economic, social and cultural life of this country. Among other things, we have introduced the Universal Child Care Benefit. We have also increased the pension income tax credit and amended the Guaranteed Income Supplement, allowing some women, including older women, to receive more money. We have also undertaken specific initiatives aimed at women entrepreneurs. As well, we have taken steps related to crime prevention, the justice system and security with a view, in particular, to protecting children from sexual exploitation.

[Nina Grewal, Conservative, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Madam Minister, the application deadline for the community fund of the women's program was just before Christmas. Can you tell us how many proposals Status of Women Canada has received to date?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

We have, in fact, begun to analyze projects received through the second call for proposals. We received a record number of them—some 342 very high quality proposals. Rather than contacting groups through the regional offices, as was the case previously, Status of Women Canada's representatives criss-cross the country to meet with groups and help them to better understand our programs. As a result, groups are now better informed and are able to bring forward better quality applications.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Mr. Norlock.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Madam Minister, thank you for coming this morning.

Since this past October, approximately 60 projects have been approved through the Women's Community Fund. In your opinion, what impacts will these projects make in advancing women's full participation in Canadian society?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Almost 60 projects have been approved, which represent an investment of more than $8 million in gender equality promotion across the country. Those projects will benefit more than 260,000 women and will have spinoffs in two strategic areas: improving women's economic security and combating violence against women.

I am very pleased to announce a project aimed at young single mothers in the Outaouais area. That project will allow some of them to go back to school and receive the training they need to secure employment. It will also allow women who have already completed their studies to benefit from internships and actually occupy a job, thereby ensuring their economic security.

An information component has also been developed with a view to raising awareness among young women of the dangers of violence against women and equipping them to combat that violence. Even though they may have had a child very young, these young women most certainly aspire to economic security, as a means of escaping the cycle of poverty. We know that very often, the challenge facing young mothers is to come to terms with their new role as a mother, while at the same time ensuring their economic security.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Sorry, Mr. Stanton, you'll have to get the next round.

We now go to Madame Demers, pour cinq minutes.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister and Ms. Beckton, thank you for being with us this morning.

Minister, having heard your opening statement, I have four questions for you. I would like to ask them one after the other, and you can answer them in the same manner.

First of all, with respect to gender budgeting, previously there was a person who had been trained in the departments by Status of Women Canada and was responsible for gender analysis. It would seem that these individuals are no longer receiving training from Status of Women Canada. Are you able to confirm, or not confirm, that information?

Also, shelters for Aboriginal women received special funding this year in order to meet the needs of Aboriginal communities. However, we know that the money provided is not enough. Is it your intention to increase funding for Aboriginal women who are victims of violence on an ongoing basis?

Thirdly, you mentioned that you went to Afghanistan and met with the Minister responsible for the Status of Women in that country. However, the Afghan Parliament included only one women, Ms. Malalai Joya. She was expelled from the Government for speaking out against the warlords. Have you pressured the Afghan government to demand that Ms. Joya be reinstated?

And, here is my last question: you say that you want to improve women's economic security. Do you think it could be important to introduce new, proactive legislation to achieve pay equity?

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

I wish you a prompt recovery.

I am going to ask Ms. Beckton to immediately address your first question.

[Clare Beckton]

We will continue to provide training to the departments.