Status of Women Committee on June 11th, 2009

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I call to order meeting 27 of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), we are doing a study of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and human trafficking.

We welcome our witnesses. From the Department of Citizenship and Immigration we have Rick Stewart, associate assistant deputy minister, operations. From the Royal Canadian Mounted Police we have Superintendent Michel Aubin, director, federal and international operations; Sergeant Marie-Claude Arsenault, non-commissioned officer, national coordination centre. We also have, from the Department of Public Safety, Barry MacKillop, from the law enforcement and border strategies directorate. And from the Canada Border Services Agency we have Megan Imrie, director of the horizontal policy and planning division.

We have a full slate this morning, and then we have a little bit of committee business. I'm going to save the bit of committee business because it's really quite important committee business.

Let us begin. You must know the rules by now. Each group--and there are four groups--has ten minutes, and if there is more than one of you representing the group, you can divide the ten minutes among you. After that, we have a first round of questioning that will take seven minutes each and then a second round that will take five minutes each. However, the question and answer are included in the seven minutes and in the five minutes. So I'm going to ask you to be brief, both as questioners and respondents. Thank you very much.

We will begin with Rick Stewart, associate assistant deputy minister of operations.

[Barry MacKillop, Director General, Law Enforcement and Border Strategies Directorate, Department of Public Safety]

Actually, Madam Chair, with your indulgence, I will start this off on behalf of the Department of Public Safety--

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Okay.

[Barry MacKillop]

--if for no other reason than that I'm the co-chair of the interdepartmental working group, so I thought I could kick it off with some broad comments, and then we could move to the specifics with my colleagues.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You're using executive privilege. Okay.

[Barry MacKillop]

Actually, I was roped into it, Madam Chair. You never want to go first, but you do it.

Good morning. I would like to thank the committee for this opportunity today to outline the government's efforts to combat human trafficking in Canada and to address specific concerns that have been raised regarding the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

As co-chair of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, my comments will focus primarily on overall efforts to curtail this crime. My colleagues from the public safety portfolio, namely the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency, can provide additional background and information on their respective efforts to date to combat human trafficking, leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Following their remarks, my colleague from Citizenship and Immigration Canada will provide information on the protection of victims and temporary resident permits.

I would like to begin by reiterating the government's commitment to protect our communities, including foreign visitors to Canada, from all forms of exploitation, whether forced labour or sexual exploitation. Human trafficking is truly a horrific crime, and we take this issue very seriously.

In Canada, our efforts are guided by and consistent with the UN protocol to prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children. Our responses to combat human trafficking are based on the four Ps: preventing trafficking, protecting victims, prosecuting offenders, and partnership-building, both domestically and internationally.

Since 2004, federal efforts have been overseen by the interdepartmental working group on trafficking in persons. As you may be aware, the working group is co-chaired by the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Justice and is comprised of 17 federal departments and agencies. This working group serves as a federal repository of expertise on combatting all forms of human trafficking and to ensure that we have a coordinated and comprehensive approach to this complex issue.

Over the past few years there have been a number of claims in Canada and abroad that major world events, like the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, provide an opportunity for organized crime and other criminals to profit from the sexual exploitation of women in order to meet an increased demand for sex, in particular. For instance, prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, considerable concerns were raised that this event would contribute to a sharp increase in trafficking for sexual exploitation in Germany. At the time, media reports suggested that prostitution would increase and that up to 40,000 women could be trafficked.

Fortunately, independent reviews following the 2006 World Cup found that no increase in human trafficking occurred during or after that sporting event. This is in large part attributed to the proactive efforts of German authorities and non-governmental organizations to prevent this crime and promote awareness.

By assessing the strategies of countries that have hosted major sporting events, we have learned that prevention and awareness initiatives are key to ensuring that events such as the upcoming 2010 winter games in Vancouver and Whistler do not represent an opportunity to exploit people. Specifically, we have learned that targeted training for law enforcement officials and clear protocols for responding to the needs of victims are among the necessary components of a successful strategy to address any potential increase in human trafficking around major sporting events.

We have also examined reports such as the Future Group's report entitled Faster, Higher, Stronger: Preventing Human Trafficking at the 2010 Olympics, which makes a number of recommendations, such as deterring trafficking through public education and awareness and deterring trafficking networks through law enforcement responses.

I want to assure you that our approach is consistent with international experience and stakeholder recommendations. For over a year now, the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons has paid particular attention to ensure that our approach to combat human trafficking address these concerns.

Federal officials have been and will continue to work with their provincial counterparts in British Columbia, including the B.C. Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons, the RCMP Border Integrity Program in B.C., and the Vancouver Police Department, in order to share information, build on existing strategies and ensure a coordinated response.

Federal working group officials have met with the RCMP Integrated Security Unit and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games to discuss how best to incorporate federal anti-trafficking measures into overall security planning. We will continue to work in collaboration with them in order to advance prevention efforts.

On January 15, 2009, the Minister of Public Safety announced a partnership between Public Safety Canada, the RCMP, and the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association to develop a national awareness campaign that will inform the public of the potential dangers of human trafficking, help the public identify suspected occurrences, and provide information on how to report suspected cases. Through this partnership, the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association will also use its national tip line as a central point for the public to report suspected cases of human trafficking.

Over the past few months, Crime Stoppers has been actively training its call centre employees and its board of directors to identify suspected cases of human trafficking, to raise awareness of the issue in local communities. Simultaneously, Crime Stoppers has been developing promotional materials to raise public awareness about human trafficking, which is expected to be launched in the fall of 2009. Their “blue blindfold” campaign builds on the campaign launched a year ago by Crime Stoppers International and the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre.

Leading up to the Olympics, Crime Stoppers will place a particular emphasis on awareness tools in the Vancouver area. In terms of awareness-building for enforcement officials and other partners, the RCMP human trafficking national coordination centre has developed tools and protocols to facilitate human trafficking investigations and raise awareness in the Vancouver area and B.C. interior, as well as nationally.

My colleague from the RCMP will provide additional information on the measures it's taking in particular in advance of the winter games. As my colleague from the CBSA will shortly explain, in protecting our shared border the CBSA will continue to manage the flow of people and goods to and from Canada prior to, during, and following the winter games.

Madam Chair, there is no greater responsibility for a government than to protect the safety and security of its citizens. As we approach the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, which are only eight months away—and we are well aware of that—we will continue to build on our current efforts to promote awareness, cooperation and coordination of efforts so that the Olympic Games take place in a safe and secure environment for all Canadians and international visitors.

Thank you again for this opportunity, and I would now ask my colleague, Michel Aubin of the RCMP, to say a few words.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

That's very good.

Who will be next?

Monsieur Aubin.

[Superintendent Michel Aubin, Director, Federal and International Operations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police]

Thank you, Madam Chair and members of the committee, for the invitation to speak to you today.

I am Superintendent Michel Aubin, the Director of the RCMP's Immigration and Passport Branch at national headquarters in Ottawa.

My branch is responsible for human trafficking and human smuggling matters across Canada. I am joined today by my colleague, Sergeant Marie-Claude Arsenault of the RCMP Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre. We are pleased to have the opportunity to speak to you today about the considerable efforts of law enforcement in combatting human trafficking activity before, during and following the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The RCMP is committed to combating human trafficking, both at home and abroad. In 2005 the RCMP established the Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre, referred to as the HTNCC. It operates on behalf of all law enforcement in Canada, not solely on behalf of the RCMP. The centre develops tools, coordinates national awareness training and anti-trafficking initiatives, develops partnerships, and coordinates intelligence for dissemination among law enforcement agencies in Canada.

Although it is difficult to compare major events planned in Canada with those that occur in other countries, as the laws and circumstances may not correspond, we are aware that individuals may use the Olympics and Paralympic Games to profit from criminal activity. What we have learned is that awareness and prevention are positive factors in mitigating the risk of increased occurrences of human trafficking.

In preparation for the games, the RCMP is conducting a number of activities in the Vancouver area and across Canada. The RCMP, in conjunction with its partners, has developed a human trafficking awareness workshop, which is being delivered to law enforcement people and prosecutors across the country. Workshops were delivered in the Vancouver area in October 2008. Additional workshops are taking place this week in the Vancouver and Victoria area, and more are planned for delivery in October 2009 in the Vancouver area and in various locations in the B.C. interior.

As part of its program, the RCMP has human trafficking awareness coordinators in each of the regional investigative teams dedicated to preventing human trafficking. Key responsibilities of these coordinators include raising awareness among, and developing strong relationships with, law enforcement, government agencies, NGOs, and the public in all provinces and territories. These established networks are critical in enabling police and NGOs to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking. In British Columbia in particular, a strong partnership has been established between the human trafficking coordinator and the provincial office to combat human trafficking. They work together during human trafficking operations to protect identified victims.

Members of the Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre and these coordinators have travelled extensively across Canada and internationally to raise awareness on human trafficking issues. To date, they have trained over 16,000 law enforcement, government, and non-government organizations across Canada on this very issue. They will continue to work closely with partners in British Columbia leading up to the games.

To ensure that members of the law enforcement community, relevant NGOs, and the public are made more aware of this issue, the RCMP has developed a human trafficking awareness tool kit to help identify potential victims as well as their traffickers. The tool kit has been distributed to all law enforcement agencies in Canada as well as to the various NGOs involved in the fight against human trafficking.

For your information, the tool kit contains an awareness video, victim assistance guidelines, posters, a police officer's handbook, a pamphlet, and a contact card. The RCMP has been working with the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association in their effort to launch a human trafficking public awareness campaign. As a result of this partnership, the Crime Stoppers tip-line phone number has been added to all RCMP human trafficking awareness materials.

Other ongoing initiatives with international partners include the following: consultation, both nationally and internationally, to learn and share best practices; MOUs being developed; awareness sessions provided to RCMP international liaison officers and law enforcement officers participating in UN missions abroad; and awareness sessions and training provided to law enforcement agencies in other countries regarding specific problems.

The RCMP leads the 2010 Integrated Security Unit Joint Intelligence Group. This unit monitors intelligence on criminal activities related to the Olympics and Paralympic Games, including human trafficking. As I mentioned earlier, the Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre coordinates and disseminates intelligence to law enforcement groups across Canada, including the Integrated Security Unit Joint Intelligence Group.

The RCMP is also currently conducting a national threat assessment to assess the situation in Canada with a focus on international human trafficking. The goal of the threat assessment is to identify criminal organizations involved in human trafficking. This will provide law enforcement with a guide to further direct its resources on this issue.

The RCMP program has members placed strategically in six key areas across Canada, dedicated to combating human smuggling and human trafficking. When human trafficking is detected, units are available to investigate. In British Columbia, leading up to the games, law enforcement is conducting proactive operations to detect human trafficking activities and is responding accordingly to the intelligence activities.

As human trafficking has no borders, law enforcement requires shared strategic priorities and the devotion of resources toward achieving common goals. The RCMP works with its partners to achieve such integration. Given the enormity of the task of keeping Canada safe, especially during major events, a multi-Iayered and multi-agency approach to enforcement is required.

Thank you for this opportunity to speak to your committee today, and I will be available to answer questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much. My goodness, you guys are really efficient.

Who is next?

Madam Imrie.

[Megan Imrie, Director, Horizontal Policy and Planning Division, Canada Border Services Agency]

Thank you.

Good morning everyone. Thank you very much for asking me to appear before the committee today.

My name is Megan Imrie. I am a director within the enforcement branch of the Canada Border Services Agency. I'm very pleased to be here today representing the agency.

I'd like to begin by telling you about how our agency deals with the important issue of trafficking in persons. The CBSA is committed to the Government of Canada's approach to combatting trafficking in persons by detecting and preventing trafficking operations and the transport of victims to Canada.

The CBSA's trafficking in persons--TIP--policy is consistent with our overall mandate of managing Canada's borders and fighting cross-border crime by preventing the irregular movement of people even before they reach Canadian territory.

The Canada Border Services Agency is engaged in multiple initiatives and continues to work with its counterparts in the public safety (PS) portfolio and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to mitigate TIP activities leading up to and during the Olympics.

The CBSA's responsibilities in relation to combatting TIP include working with overseas partners to combat irregular migration that may include TIP; detecting and intercepting fraudulently obtained documents to help prevent the transportation of potential TIP victims to Canada; and, upon detection of potential trafficking-in-persons victims, assisting in the safety and security of potential victims by separating them from the suspected human traffickers.

The Canada Border Services Agency provides assistance in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking offenders. The CBSA works with key partner agencies in Canada--such as Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, local police agencies, and non-government organizations--to ensure that victims are provided with the necessary referrals and assistance, including to the CIC for appropriate consideration of immigration status, as warranted.

The CBSA requires that all new border services officers, or BSOs, complete a “People at Risk” workshop as part of their port-of-entry training to prepare them to deal with vulnerable persons. Our migration integrity officers, or MIOs, receive extensive specialized training, including training in passport and document fraud, intelligence collection and reporting, identifying inadmissible persons and threats to national security, and detecting migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

Internally, the Canada Border Services Agency has been preparing for the games for over two years, analyzing its requirements and building the capacities required to facilitate the processing of people and goods and to ensure adherence to border legislation.

The CBSA's internal Olympic and Paralympic task force was formed in October 2008 to lead national and Pacific region efforts to ensure that the agency is effective in helping coordinate core infrastructure.

The Canada Border Services Agency has no information that would indicate an increase in human trafficking directly in relation to the Olympics. That being said, the CBSA will have plans and measures in place to ensure the overall readiness of the organization. To ensure the security of our borders, the CBSA, in collaboration with security partners, uses a variety of risk assessment tools and programs.

Two of the advanced systems we have in place are the advance passenger information program and the integrated primary inspection line. These tools are used to screen everyone seeking to enter Canada. In addition, there is an accreditation program in place for family and participants in the 2010 games. CBSA is an active member of the interdepartmental working group on trafficking in persons as well as a working group on TIP and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. In support of the interdepartmental working group's efforts in mitigating trafficking in persons, experts--including from the CBSA--deliver TIP awareness sessions to our own CBSA officers and other law enforcement officers across Canada as part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police national human trafficking workshop, which you've heard about from my colleague. From 2008 to present, CBSA officers have participated in workshops in 17 Canadian cities.

Building on the “pushing out our borders” concept, the Olympic and Paralympic task force has allocated funding to the migration integrity officer program to enhance the capacity to intercept improperly documented passengers headed to Canada; to airline personnel training to screen and identify inadmissible passengers; and to intelligence gathering activities. This will allow CBSA to prevent potential victims from being exploited by traffickers in Canada.

The CBSA recently published a policies and procedures manual on TIP in February 2009. The manual is now available to all our CBSA officers and is designed to assist our officers in detecting, intercepting, and dealing with instances of human trafficking, including the proper referral protocols and necessary contact information. In addition, the CBSA enforcement branch recently established a national human trafficking network. It is made up of regional intelligence officers who will participate in monthly conference calls in order to share information and build expertise across Canada.

Finally, the CBSA will be ramping up capacity in the Pacific region to perform primary, secondary, and enforcement activities at affected ports of entry. Specific investments have been made in Vancouver marine operations, where additional resources will be made available to perform increased vessel rummages and crew-passenger verifications leading up to and during the games. We have also expanded our intelligence capacity by increasing the presence of intelligence officers in the region. We will also be relocating approximately 100 CBSA officers to impacted locations in Pacific region and additional staff to Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

I have no doubt that the increased vigilance made possible by the current programs I have described will mitigate the risk of human trafficking at the Olympics.

TIP is a serious problem, and the CBSA remains committed to working domestically and within the global community to combat it. The CBSA will continue to work closely with international partners to stem the problem at its source. The CBSA will assist in the identification of possible TIP victims by ensuring that foreign nationals seeking entry to Canada have proper travel documents, and are entering Canada for a genuine and a lawful purpose.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

And now Mr. Stewart.

[Rick Stewart, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration]

Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the committee.

My name is Rick Stewart, and I am the associate assistant deputy minister of operations at Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

I want to thank the committee for this opportunity to provide an overview of CIC's contribution to combatting human trafficking.

I know there is considerable focus on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and I understand the challenges they present in combatting this crime. Having said that, it is important to note that any meaningful and lasting progress in the fight against human trafficking demands constant vigilance.

To that end, CIC works with many partners on an ongoing basis to combat this crime, and we will continue to do so during the games and long after they are over.

CIC works routinely with many partners, including our colleagues at the Department of Public Safety, the RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency, and other law enforcement agencies, to combat human trafficking, raise awareness of this crime, and prosecute the offenders.

With respect to the protection of victims, CIC's involvement begins when a person comes forward, either on their own or referred to us by a non-governmental organization like a women's shelter or a law enforcement agency such as the RCMP. Our main role in this is to ensure victims receive appropriate consideration for immigration status, as individual circumstances warrant.

In 2006, in response to the unique needs of victims, the government introduced guidelines that would allow temporary resident permits to be issued to foreign national victims of trafficking. These guidelines allowed immigration officers to issue a short-term temporary resident permit, free of charge, of up to 120 days, to foreign national victims of human trafficking in Canada. The intent of this permit was to provide them with temporary legal immigration status in Canada.

In 2007 the government extended the length of this short-term permit to 180 days in order to allow victims to apply for a work permit, an option that had been unavailable to them under the 120-day permit.

When a temporary resident permit is issued to a victim in Canada, CIC officers help the victim to contact appropriate groups, including the embassy of their home country, provincial and municipal agencies, and non-governmental organizations.

This permit gives them a chance to escape from the influence of their trafficker, and the opportunity to begin to recover from their ordeal with assistance, including health-care benefits and trauma counselling, through the interim federal health program.

It also gives them time to reflect on what they want to do next, whether they choose to seek to remain in Canada or return to their home country. They may also consider participating in an investigation or prosecution if they so choose.

Longer-term temporary resident permits can also be issued for up to three years, where individual circumstances warrant. Victims may also apply for permanent residence under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, through, for example, the permit holders' class, an application for humanitarian and compassionate consideration, or the refugee-determination process.

As well, Madam Chair, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act includes penalties of up to life imprisonment and fines of up to one million dollars for conviction of trafficking in persons.

Our commitment to protecting victims of human trafficking remains consistent, regardless of the manner they arrived in Canada, including in relation to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Nevertheless, given that the Olympics represent a high-profile target for both victims and offenders, we are taking a number of additional steps. We are educating temporary foreign workers and other visitors on how to avoid such exploitation, by distributing brochures and posters, available in five languages, which outline workers' basic rights in Canada and inform foreign nationals of our labour standards.

We will also boost international awareness of Canada's commitment to protecting victims by including these brochures with the Olympic workforce applications. This effort will add to the volume of material we already distribute in our overseas missions and, with our partners at CBSA, at Canadian ports of entry.

We are also engaged in outreach to the hospitality and construction industries, as well as other employers, to raise awareness of their responsibility to ensure workers are protected against exploitation. And we are contacting first responders, such as health care, social services, settlement agencies, and shelters in British Columbia, about temporary resident permits that are available for the victims of trafficking.

No country is immune to this crime. CIC's measures open the door to important services for victims of trafficking. We recognize this is a serious problem, and we are committed to working closely with our partners in a concerted effort to raise awareness and actively support victims of this crime.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much. My goodness, you guys are really efficient. That's all I have to say.

We'll start our first round of questions with Ms. Neville.

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

Thank you.

Let me begin by thanking every one of you for coming here today. It's certainly much appreciated.

You're undoubtedly aware that this committee has been following this issue for some time. As I listened to you, and having been around this committee for a while, I'm struck at the exceptional energy and commitment you have put into trying to address this issue. I certainly thank you and commend you for that.

I have a number of questions, but a couple of them that came to me I thought you may not want to answer in public, so I will go back to my other ones.

I attended a summit in Vancouver not too long ago, as others did, organized by a collection of about 25 community groups in Vancouver, very much focused on the 2010 Olympics and human trafficking. Their focus was on protection, prosecution, and prevention of human trafficking. Do you work with these groups in Vancouver? When I listened to your presentations, there was not a lot of discussion on the protection of the victim, or services to the victim, other than a temporary resident permit. Perhaps you could speak to that a little bit, and not too long, because I don't have much time and I have other questions.

[Supt Michel Aubin]

I'll start.

In terms of the protection of the victims, that was in fact a key purpose of the awareness material that's distributed to everybody. When we talk about our four Ps, as well as partnerships, it's partnerships with non-governmental organizations. So when these incidents do happen, the protection of victims is key, is paramount. The RCMP or law enforcement agencies are aware of it, and that's taken over by CIC and non-governmental organizations to make sure their security is addressed, their needs are addressed. I'll let CIC speak to that.

A small issue you touched upon here is the protection of those victims. That protection can go all the way to the extent of entering into the witness protection program, if there's a need. So when we're talking about staying in Canada and potentially testifying down the road, that protection can be extended all the way to the witness protection program.

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

I'm not being critical of you, I want to make that quite clear, but when I attended, much of the discussion focused on the insufficient resources and supports available to victims. From your perspective, could more be done?

[Sergeant Marie-Claude Arsenault, Non-Commissionned Officer, Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre, Royal Canadian Mounted Police]

Particularly in B.C., with our partnership with the B.C. office to combat human trafficking, I would say a very good system is in place to address the needs of the victim. The partnership is very well established, so before an investigation or an operation is undertaken, meetings are taking place to ensure the security of the victims during the operation.

In British Columbia, there's a very good system. Also, throughout the country there's already a good system in place, in which our coordinators are participating to ensure protection.

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

Thank you.

Maybe it's the way we asked the question, but I was struck by how much of your discussion focused on the international trafficking of women. Could you elaborate a little bit more on what initiatives you have in place for the internal trafficking of women from across the country, focusing on Vancouver?

[Supt Michel Aubin]

Okay.

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

Let me back up. I think those of us who were on the committee at the time.... Maybe I'll just speak for myself: I was stunned to hear at the time that Vancouver is deemed a sex destination city, with or without the Olympics. I don't know whether you would agree with that, but that was certainly what somebody from the Vancouver Police Department told us at the time. I'm interested to know what you're doing to combat or address it internally as well as internationally.

[Supt Michel Aubin]

In terms of destinations, we have a threat assessment that's going on right now, which will give us an idea of where the problem lies. The advance result right now is that Vancouver is one of the areas, but not the sole area in Canada.

In relation to domestic or international, from an RCMP and enforcement perspective, we recognize there is international trafficking and there is domestic trafficking. But in terms of addressing the problem, we address both sides of the problem with the same vigour. The issue here is that individuals are being trafficked and exploited. There are victims, but it's a matter of how we structure the investigation if it's international compared to domestic. The RCMP and other law enforcement will address both of them.

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

Are there any other comments on that?

[Barry MacKillop]

I would add that from the interdepartmental working group perspective, we are also using some money that we received from budget 2006. It's the $6 million to fund research and other programs. We're looking at supporting a couple of areas with OCTIP, the B.C. office. We work very closely with them. In fact, they're part of our subcommittee on the interdepartmental working group. We have a subcommittee that looks specifically at the Olympics issue and we work with OCTIP. Also, there's an organization called Supporting Women Alternatives Network, SWAN, in B.C. and Vancouver. We're looking at helping them with one of their programs, as well as working with the Métis group and aboriginals.

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

I have a quick question. I know my time is running out.

You've put a number of initiatives in place. Are you seeing the difference?

[Barry MacKillop]

We're certainly seeing a difference in the information sharing, awareness, and collaboration. These initiatives have been in place for a relatively short period of time, and it's hard to gauge the long-term results on them, but we are certainly seeing a difference in the level of awareness, the level of cooperation, and the desire to work together across what are typically jurisdictional boundaries--provincial, federal, and non-governmental. People are coming together to work on it. From that perspective, we are seeing results.