Status of Women Committee on May 26th, 2009

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Irene Mathyssen]

Order.

Thank you very much.

Welcome, Minister. It's a pleasure to see you here today. I know that the committee has many questions for you.

You have about ten minutes or so for your remarks, because I know that everyone has much to ask.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Minister of State (Status of Women)]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee members,

I am pleased to be here today.

First, I would like to take a moment to commend the standing committee on its recent work, including your studies on employment insurance and pay equity on behalf of Canadian women and women around the world. Given the number of meetings you have held and the studies you have undertaken, from my point of view and from my past experience sitting around this table, this committee still seems to be the busiest on the Hill.

I am pleased to be here today to outline for you the Government of Canada's priorities to advance equality for women and their full participation in the economic, social, and democratic life of our country. I am also here on the government's main estimates and the report on plans and priorities for Status of Women Canada.

Since coming into power, our government has made numerous positive changes to Status of Women Canada. These changes include the creation of two funds within the women's program, the women's partnership fund and the women's community fund. As well, to support the initiatives of the women's program, we increased funding to Status of Women Canada by 42%, bringing its current funding level to the highest level in Canada's history.

These positive changes were recently reviewed in the departmental performance report released this spring. In fact, the departmental performance report noted that the changes to the women's program had allowed Status of Women Canada to widen its reach and to have a more open and competitive funding program. The changes also saw a significant increase in the uptake of its funding and greater diversity among the funding recipients.

I was pleased that many of these changes have made a real difference in the lives of Canadian women from coast to coast to coast. The DPR noted that in 2007-2008, the number of organizations that had received funding from the women's program had increased by 69%. Of those organizations that were receiving funding, 41% had applied for funding for the very first time; as a result, in the last fiscal year alone, projects funded by the women's program directly benefited 100,000 Canadian women and indirectly benefited one million women.

The report also noted the many accomplishments Canadian women have made over the years. For example, since 1971 the number of women aged 15 and over with a university degree increased from 3% to 18%. In May 2008 women increased their labour force participation rate to 62.4%, a record high level of participation.

Canadian women are making important advances in Canadian society, and I am pleased with the important role Status of Women Canada is playing in improving women's participation in all aspects of Canadian life.

The report on plans and priorities further highlights the positive work of our government in addressing women's equality. It noted that my appointment as the first minister of state solely dedicated to the status of women will ensure that Status of Women Canada will not only have increased visibility but also a stronger voice. It also noted that our changes to Status of Women resulted in enhanced accountability on gender equality, a wider program reach, and an improved ability to develop strategic partnerships and leverage resources. I'm proud of our changes and I'm very proud of the positive response that our changes have garnered.

While our government has made progress in enhancing women's participation on a wide range of issues by developing supportive policies and measures to address critical challenges and by providing the resources to help deal with them, around this table we all know that there is more work to be done.

That is why the federal action plan for women is key for our government. I am currently wrapping up the consultation process, and engagement sessions are still taking place throughout the country on the plan's pillars of promoting economic security and prosperity for women, seeing an end to the violence against women, and encouraging women's democratic participation and leadership in key decision-making bodies. There will also, of course, be an aboriginal component in this action plan.

Our government recognizes the important role grassroots organizations are playing in providing support and services to Canadian women. That is why our increased funding and the greater number of groups receiving funding are so significant. Our government is supporting grassroots organizations across the country because they best understand the unique situations that women are faced with and they know the solutions for women in their areas.

Projects that Status of Women Canada is supporting will achieve concrete results, such as providing women with skills and training as well as developing culturally relevant tools to help organizations assist victims of violence from diverse communities and to help older women in rural communities to plan for their retirement.

Over the last year, through the women’s partnership fund of Status of Women Canada, numerous partnerships have been created that I am very proud of. For example, Status of Women Canada has a partnership with Equal Voice, which I know you're familiar with. They will be engaging 5,800 young women and girls to take on leadership roles within their communities. I know that each of you recognizes the significance of this. I believe that at my request my staff has brought along some of the brochures for each of you.

Also, our partnership with WEConnect Canada will provide opportunities for women business owners to access supplier diversity in markets worldwide. This is something I became aware of when I was the secretary of state for trade, and I was very excited to have the opportunity when I came to Status of Women Canada to fulfill that goal. The partnership, also with CATA WIT, is one that will encourage young women's involvement in technology, and our partnership with the Association of Manitoba Chiefs will raise awareness around the issue of human trafficking and its impact on the aboriginal community. This is something I know Ms. Neville is supportive of.

In these times of economic uncertainty, the Government of Canada remains committed to advancing equality for women and their full participation in all aspects of Canadian life—social, economic, and democratic. I am also happy to tell the committee that we will be announcing a call for proposals under the women's community fund in the coming weeks.

I have also been very busy representing Canada internationally. Status of Women Canada plays an important part in representing Canada in international forums, and it has been a pleasure to be a part of that process.

In November, on behalf of the Government of Canada I signed on to the UNIFEM campaign to say no to violence. This is an international effort to raise awareness about the issue of violence against women.

In March I led the Canadian delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. There, I had the opportunity to deliver the Canadian head of delegation speech. I also had several bilateral meetings with my counterparts from around the world, participated in round tables, and addressed the panel on women in Afghanistan. Speaking to colleagues around the table who attended with me, I appreciate your having been there.

In March I also had the opportunity to travel to Washington, where I met with Valerie Jarrett. Of course, Valerie is senior adviser and assistant to the President. She was also recently appointed chair of the White House Commission on Women and Girls, which is new. Ms. Jarrett and I discussed a number of issues of importance to women across our countries, but I have to say that it truly was an honour to have Ms. Jarrett commend Canada for our gender machinery in government and our leadership in having a cabinet minister solely dedicated to the status of women. I look forward to continuing discussions with her and further sharing of best practices. I will have some announcements on that in the future.

In April we also had our annual federal-provincial-territorial meeting. My counterparts and I had a very productive meeting, discussing issues of violence against women and aboriginal women. One issue we were all particularly interested in around the table was regarding the potential of women in non-traditional occupations, a topic that I understand this committee is hoping to study at some point. There is a huge potential for Canadian women to contribute to Canada's economy in non-traditional jobs.

I look forward to your report on this. I encourage you to study it and to look at specific industries that you would not have thought of in the past, such as the automotive sector, in which I know we don't see a strong representation of women. I think we could look to it as well, as we build for the future, and maybe at solar energy, and of course technology. Of course, it is your decision as a committee around this table to decide whether you would like to study it.

My provincial counterparts and I also joined together to commend the Prime Minister's stand on addressing the sharia law in Afghanistan. We had a unanimous decision to support the Prime Minister's position on this very important issue. I believe it is a testament to the Prime Minister and this government's commitment to women at home and around the world.

The release of the Auditor General's spring report earlier this month, and in particular its chapter on gender-based analysis, I'm sure was of great interest to every one of you around the table. I also look forward to tabling our government's response to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women's study entitled Towards Gender Responsive Budgeting: Rising to the Challenge of Achieving Gender Equality in the coming weeks.

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of including gender-based analysis in the development and the assessment of policies and programs. Steps have been taken to implement gender-based analysis frameworks, and the government will continue to enhance the practice of GBA across all departments and agencies.

I feel it is important to highlight our government's commitment to this implementation of GBA. Since we formed a government in 2006, in the elements of the budget it is responsible for the Department of Finance has in fact conducted gender-based analysis. This process has continued in our recent economic action plan. Also, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, since 2007, in order to obtain funding from Treasury Board, Treasury Board submissions require evidence of gender-based analysis, which is something we put in place. In 2008 our government took further action, to ensure that all memoranda to cabinet included gender-based analysis. These are all very significant political decisions.

Currently, Status of Women Canada provides training to departments so that they can conduct gender-based analysis within their own department. The agency is also available to answer questions and provide directions on issues that are related to gender-based analysis.

In our economic action plan in Budget 2009, our government set out a plan that takes a very balanced approach to stimulate economic growth and restore confidence and support for all Canadians, including women and their families. The plan will benefit all women, including the most vulnerable and those who are hardest hit by the recession. By having an economic action plan that balances stimulus with support, our government is working to ensure that Canadian women and their families emerge from this current economic downturn faster and stronger.

But while it is important to celebrate progress towards equality for women and their full participation in Canadian society, we have to reflect on the challenges and the barriers that still remain. We have to consider the future steps to achieving equality for all women in all aspects of their lives. I can assure you that our government will continue to focus where the need is the greatest, so that we can make a concrete difference in the lives of women. We will continue to invest in projects that touch women directly and impact their lives in key areas.

Thank you very much, committee members.

I look forward to your questions.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Irene Mathyssen]

Thank you, Minister. We appreciate your remarks.

Now we have a seven-minute round, beginning with Ms. Neville.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I want to thank you, Minister Guergis, for attending today. I'm pleased that you were able to come. As you are aware, we've submitted a number of requests, and I'm glad you're here today.

Your remarks, for me, have generated many more questions than I had anticipated. I'm going to try to go through them fairly quickly.

You referred to the call for proposals for the community partnership fund as coming. It's now some months into the fiscal year, and I don't know when the call is coming, but I am concerned. We know that the dollars were not fully committed last year. I'm wondering how your department plans to process them so that the moneys can be used and put out this year.

I have a question on the partnerships program. When a partnership program is announced, is it necessary to have the commitments by the partners in place before your funding to the partnership program is given out? I'm concerned about the logistics of that.

Briefly, I'm putting my questions out, and you can take the time to answer them.

The AG's report on gender-based analysis, quite clearly, we all know was very unsatisfactory. She didn't quite put it this way, but the system is basically a mess. She highlighted a number of departments. Some were better than others; Transport Canada, we know, failed the test; she didn't touch on others. What will you be doing with the other departments there?

You referred to the provincial meeting. I have had conversations with some who were there, and I know that one of the overriding issues was the whole issue of early learning and child care. I wonder whether you could speak to that.

I will ask one more and then I'll come back, if I have more time.

I have a list now of all of the proposals. I have gone through them fairly carefully. Some of them are splendid; some of them, in my mind, are highly questionable; and some of them seem to have a great deal of similarity between them. What I'm interested in is how you determine, in your assessment of proposals, what is within federal and what is within provincial jurisdiction.

I'll stop there and then come back, if there is time.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I think I got all those questions down.

First, I think you might have been referring to the community fund and not the partnership fund in your first question.

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

I was referring to the community originally, and then the partnership fund. I'm sorry.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

There was, we all know, a delay in the approval process for the last community fund because of the election, and I intend to have a call for proposals within the next couple of weeks. I don't know what further to give you on that, except that we are about to make another call for proposals.

You suggested that there was some delay in funding and so on. There was no delay in funding, so I don't really know what you're talking about.

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

All of the funding was not used for the community fund, and I appreciate—

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

No, the funding was used for the community fund, and there was some money used for the partnership.

I can have someone speak more directly on the finances for you, and we have them here. I believe that last year and this year what we did was roll the money over into the next year. So the money was available for us to utilize last year, and then there will be more money that we moved over to the next as well.

I can have someone come and answer your question better that that—

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

I would like to know about it, because we see a $5 million shortfall.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

There are no shortfalls. The money gets carried over and it gets spent.

Also, keep in mind that what is important, Ms. Neville, is that when we do projects, sometimes they are for two and three years, so we also book the money for the following years, and we recognize that we have to make sure that money is booked for the next year.

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

My concern about the community funds, though, is that it is late in the year now to get the call for proposals out. I don't know what your timeline will be for those proposals to come in to you, but I am concerned that we know the criteria for the community fund and that we know that the dollars will be getting out the door.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Well, I can tell you they will.

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

We'll be watching.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I'm sure you will.

With respect to partnerships, they do take a lot more time, because they try to leverage other resources—

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

I'm aware of that.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

—and they must have the partners in place. And that's important. So they do take considerable more time.

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

Do they have to be in place before the money is committed by you?

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

That's the goal. Yes, that's the goal, to have the money in place and the commitments, so they can be approved. That is the focus; that's the goal.

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

Is that the reality?

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Yes, for the majority of them, that's what my understanding is and what my answers to your questions have been. And they've been a yes.

With respect to gender-based analysis, is it perfect? No, it's not.

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

It's far from perfect, yes.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

We still have a long way to go. But, Ms. Neville, I think you recognize that we made some political decisions, which I outlined in my opening remarks, that your government could have done very easily in eleven years, but you didn't.

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

You know, that's a little—

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Yes, so you're going to have to give some recognition. You could have implemented gender-based analysis as part of the budget process and the tax measures in the budget process, but you didn't do it. We did it.

You could have said that Treasury Board has to require evidence of gender-based analysis—