Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
If you don't mind, I will make my opening statement, as planned. I will then be available to take questions from members of the Committee.
Madam Chair, Committee members, I am pleased to be here to outline the Government of Canada's commitment to women's full participation in Canadian society and Status of Women Canada's recent accomplishments. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Chair on her re-election, and congratulate Ms. Davidson and Ms. Mathyssen on their election as Vice-Chairs.
I am accompanied by Clare Beckton, the Coordinator of Status of Women Canada, whom you have already met twice. I understand the Committee has begun its study on gender budgeting. This is an area of great interest as we prepare for the 2008 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women deliberations, on the theme “Financing of Gender Equality”.
In the Speech from the Throne, our government's current five priorities were outlined: strengthening Canada's sovereignty and place in the world; strengthening the federation and democratic institutions; providing effective economic leadership for a prosperous future; tackling crime and strengthening the security of Canadians; and, improving the environment and health of Canadians.
Status of Women Canada's work is aligned with these priorities, focussing on the broader barriers facing women, by working in several policy areas related to women's economic security and violence against women. Status of Women Canada's two key instruments for action—its strategic policy and partnership function, and its funding mechanisms—are interrelated and inform each other.
This positions the organization well to address the barriers to women's full participation in society—barriers that often go even deeper for visible minority, immigrant, senior and Aboriginal women.
As a demonstration of our firm commitment to the success of Status of Women Canada, Budget 2007 provided $10 million in funding to the agency, bringing the total budget to $29.9 million, a record for Status of Women Canada. The women's program of Status of Women Canada now houses both the women's community fund and the new women's partnership fund.
In October, I announced $8 million in funding for 60 projects across the country through the Women's Community Fund from the first call for proposals, issued last June. These projects will positively impact over 260,000 women and girls by addressing barriers, educating them about violence prevention, helping them increase their financial literacy, and encouraging cooperative peer support networks.
In November, I announced a second call for proposals for the Women's Community Fund. That call closed on December 21, 2007. I am pleased to report that 342 applications were received—a significant increase from the first call for proposals. The focus is on projects that promote women's economic security and prosperity, health and safety, and those aimed at ending all forms of discrimination and violence against women. All projects must support the advancement of all women in Canada and serve to foster partnerships to meet women's needs.
At the end of last year, I announced the first initiative under the new Women's Partnership Fund, with my provincial counterpart in Quebec, Mme Christine St-Pierre, and the École nationale d'administration publique.
Through funding over three years of $1.05 million from the Government of Canada, and $600,000 from the Government of Quebec, the Groupe Femmes, Politique et Démocratie will provide leadership training for women who mentor other Quebec women seeking to participate in the democratic process.
A strong country means a country in which women can participate, make a contribution and realize their dreams.
Violence against women and girls is a major concern to Canadians. It is, therefore, a key priority for Status of Women Canada to reduce violence directed towards women. In particular, Aboriginal women in the North experience higher rates of violence and unemployment, lower-quality living conditions, and less access to health care, social services and other supports. Renewed attention to Canada's North will promote economic and social development, including better living conditions, directly benefiting the women who live there.
Status of Women Canada's ongoing partnership with the Native Women's Association of Canada is improving the lives of aboriginal women through the Sisters in Spirit campaign, addressing racialized, sexualized violence against aboriginal women.
At the first National Aboriginal Women's Summit, which took place in June 2007 in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Canada announced funding of almost $56 million over five years for family violence prevention programs and on-reserve services.
The Government's commitment to re-introduce legislation to repeal section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act is good news for Aboriginal women living on-reserve—providing them with access to the same rights as other Canadian women. This is an issue on which Status of Women Canada has been very engaged, providing evidence of the impact of Section 67 on women.
Trafficking in persons remains a serious and growing concern for women and girls, both in Canada and beyond our borders, which the Committee knows well from its work in this area. I am pleased that it is your intention to continue this work.
Budget 2007 allocated $6 million to combat the serious, growing issue of child exploitation and trafficking. As the Vancouver 2010 Olympics approach, our Government is taking action to combat the trafficking of young women and girls.
The RCMP leads a team of federal partners and other officials, including Status of Women Canada, which enhances knowledge, skills and enforcement of laws on trafficking and the services required by victims of this deplorable practice.
My ministerial colleagues will have the opportunity to discuss this further at their next appearance before the Standing Committee.
Economic security remains a challenge for many Canadian women. Accordingly, another top priority for Status of Women Canada is advancing women's economic security and prosperity.
I'm pleased to be working with the forum of federal-provincial-territorial ministers responsible for the Status of Women to promote women's self-sufficiency, safety, and security and to improve the situation of aboriginal women in Canada.
The growth in women's workforce participation, including older workers, will drive economic growth and long-term productivity for the next several decades and beyond, from which all Canadians will benefit.
While women's labour force participation has increased, there is still much work to do. The Department of Finance conducted a gender-based analysis with a focus on tax measures in both Budget 2006 and Budget 2007, and will do so going forward. This is essential if women are to participate fully in the economic life of the country.
Achieving concrete results requires the ability to monitor and measure progress, based on policy and program objectives linked to accountability and measurable outcomes. As a result, Status of Women Canada is working with central agencies and key departments to integrate gender reporting into government accountability mechanisms, and create a set of indicators to measure the situation of women over time.
