Evidence of meeting #17 for Status of Women in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was departments.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, Gender-Based Analysis, Status of Women Canada
The policy was issued in 1995. I would say that implementation of the tools and training started in 2000.
Bloc
Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Before proceeding with changes to the Women's Program, did Status of Women Canada conduct a gender-based analysis of budgets?
Director, Gender-Based Analysis, Status of Women Canada
That brings us back to Ms. Mathyssen's question. We're not asked to do that work. We didn't take part in those talks within the department.
Bloc
Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
I'd like to know and understand how the priorities in your mandate are set. It seems to me that, since 1995, the primary objective has been to achieve equality in concrete terms. To develop tools, you focus on personal security, economic security and so on. By preparing indicators in that way, how can we see, in concrete terms, whether we're achieving equality?
Director, Gender-Based Analysis, Status of Women Canada
That remains to be done. I don't know how priorities were set in 1995, or even in 1975, when Status of Women Canada was created, but it's for sure that, since 2005, with accountability and indicators, we've said to ourselves that we need a set of indicators to do what you want: planning based on priorities that are selected fairly, not simply because we get the feeling we should give priority to one field or another. It may seem strange that I'm saying we've done a lot of work on various projects and various issues over the years. There have also been events that were highlighted in certain situations, like those of Aboriginal women and battered women. We have enough data and information to show that something must be done in that area.
I believe that, where we are now, we must detect the systemic deficiencies or issues that are somewhat invisible and that we don't know very well. Indeed, we need better data in order to know them well. That's why we're setting up our indicators project, in order to establish priorities better.
Moreover, Status of Women Canada relies on the government's priorities. If the government has priorities, then we put the accent on gender-based analysis to ensure that those priorities won't have an unfair or negative impact on women.
Bloc
Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
The government's priorities tend to stray from the primary concern, which is equality, since equality is no longer part of the mandate of Status of Women Canada.
Director, Gender-Based Analysis, Status of Women Canada
We see that more in considering prosperity and economic equality. It's mainly for those issues that we conduct an analysis, in order to ensure we have results in the end. I've been in the field for a long time, so it's hard for me to talk about that in terms of gender equality.
Bloc
Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Have those priorities been among your concerns for two or three years?
Director, Gender-Based Analysis, Status of Women Canada
The concerns of—
Director, Gender-Based Analysis, Status of Women Canada
No, it's been a long time.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I've been listening. Would it be useful for Parliament to oversee or monitor the GBA process? Would that be a useful thing?
Director, Gender-Based Analysis, Status of Women Canada
I don't know. I would probably have to go back and look and see if there's any kind of experience like that anywhere else in the world. I'm sure it has its pros and its cons. I don't really know.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
It would seem that, ultimately, Parliament has responsibility for what happens. Perhaps we do have a role, perhaps through this committee, to do some monitoring and reporting back. It's certainly something to think about.
Director, Gender-Based Analysis, Status of Women Canada
It is. We have this grid that we use with departments that want to develop their infrastructure. We call it an organizational capacity tool, and we try to do an assessment of what they have in the department that could facilitate the work and the integration of GBA. There's always an area for what is the role of senior officials and what is the role of parliamentarians in this way. We've never really activated it in that sense, but it certainly is something worth exploring.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
In that vein, then, is there a role for civil society in the GBA process, that external group that looks at things with perhaps fresh eyes or a community perspective?
Director, Gender-Based Analysis, Status of Women Canada
Definitely. GBA is a tool, but it is a tool within the confines of the practices of the government. In a democratic society, it is very refreshing, as you say, to have groups on the outside who can put pressure on different issues and from a much different perspective. It really is the combination of these different sources of information that can help Parliament, the cabinet, take a decision and develop the policies they wish to develop. But certainly it's something we welcome.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
It sort of fits in with the statement, on page 4, that SWC generates knowledge and tools on gender issues and GBA practices. I was wondering how you generate that knowledge. Is it all internal, or do you go outside and seek external advice, from women's groups, organizations, women doing the research in this field?
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Is there a problem now that this research component has been cut off? Is there a concern that the knowledge won't flow as it once did?
Director, Gender-Based Analysis, Status of Women Canada
No, I wouldn't say that is so. I believe you're referring to the policy research fund. The policy research fund had a very different role from the one you are describing. As we say in the presentation, we are drawing from all the different sources, and it is quite feasible to do it with stakeholders, departments, other organizations—quite feasible, quite doable, right now.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
All right. Thank you.
There was a discussion about the three champions and the fact that the positions are still there, and you mentioned that there was turnover in regard to that. Does that present any problems in terms of consistency or perspective?
