Status of Women Committee on Dec. 3rd, 2009

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

The men in the construction industry, as I said, are saying that they prefer women because we are not breaking the equipment. Placement rates for the graduates in this program are over 90%, and we are now funding a project to transfer that knowledge to other organizations in all provinces. These are well-paying jobs. They're jobs that women deserve to have an opportunity in and to prosper in.

Partnerships have been created with Equal Voice, which everyone is aware of. It's a multi-partisan organization and represents another opportunity not to be overly partisan. We should be supporting each other, encouraging more mentors, and encouraging young women to get involved in politics and to stay involved.

I've also met with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and I'm supporting some of the work they want to do, particularly for women in rural Canada. These initiatives, as you know, are very key, because increasing the political literacy skills of women will result in more women being elected and more women around these tables.

I'll close with a few comments on aboriginal women.

We have put a very special emphasis on the unique challenges of women who face multiple barriers, and that would be our aboriginal women. The violence against aboriginal women is a major concern for this government. Aboriginal women, as we know, are three times more likely to experience this violence and five times more likely to die as a result of it.

The Sisters in Spirit initiative is designed to increase public awareness. I think everyone around this table would agree that they have done an excellent job in raising public awareness of murdered and missing aboriginal women. They are also doing a multi-research program on getting a better understanding as to the root causes of the racialized and sexualized violence that our aboriginal women are experiencing.

We are working on the next steps and exploring the next options. I am working closely with the Native Women's Association. I appreciate the incredible work they have done. I also appreciate the work that the families have done. It takes a great deal of courage to tell the stories of their lost loved ones, of the lost spirits, in order to help us to make change for the future. I know we will all appreciate their contribution.

Thanks to this initiative, we have seen an increase in public engagement, and that includes questions being raised in the House of Commons. We intend to continue to work with our federal, provincial, and territorial partners to build on the results and to find some good programs that will help to end this violence.

Madam Chair, I do have some more comments, but as you have indicated, there's no time for me to continue to give the members around this table a report on some of the other great things we're doing.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I just gave you an indication that we had reached 10 minutes. If this committee feels they would like to give you the extra time to finish your report, of course I will move according to the committee's decision.

Would the committee like to give the minister a few more minutes?

Okay, that's fine; you can finish.

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

Thank you.

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, we know that there is much more work to be done.

I have been meeting with Canadians from coast to coast to coast to engage women in particular on how best to promote economic security and prosperity for women, on what they think is the best way to approach ending violence against women, and how they think we can encourage more women to be involved in the democratic process and in key leadership roles.

Our government is working to deliver real results to Canadians by advancing women's full participation. We are acting to advance the goal of empowering women across Canada, as strong women make a strong Canada.

In these times of economic uncertainty, the Government of Canada continues to work to advance equality for women in all aspects of Canadian life. We recognize that women's skill sets, their leadership, and their expertise must be fully utilized if Canada is to maintain its high standard of living and to compete successfully on the global stage.

Our government responded to the economic downturn by introducing our economic action plan, a plan to stimulate the economy, maintain and create jobs for Canadian women and men, and protect those hardest hit by the recession.

The Fourth Report to Canadians presented by our Finance Minister yesterday has shown that 97% of the stimulus funding in Canada's plan has been committed to more than 12,000 infrastructure and housing projects. About 8,000 or 66% of these projects have already begun in the 10 months since the two-year plan was launched.

Some of the progress made in implementing the economic action plan includes reducing the tax burden for Canadian families and businesses by more than $20 billion over 2008-09 and the following five fiscal years; supporting those Canadian workers who have lost their jobs or may face layoffs through additional employment insurance benefits and training opportunities; and creating and preserving jobs through investment in modern infrastructure and affordable housing; supporting research and advanced education by funding much-needed maintenance, repair, and construction projects at colleges and universities across Canada; protecting jobs and industries in communities hit hardest by the recession; and taking unprecedented action to improve the availability of finance for households and businesses in Canada.

Our efforts are having a positive effect. The IMF expects Canada's recovery to be the strongest in the G-7, laying the foundations for the future prosperity of women and men in Canadian society.

I want to assure you that our government will continue to invest in projects that touch women directly and impact their lives in key areas.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much, Minister.

I will begin with the question round. The first round is seven minutes. That includes questions and answers.

We begin with Ms. Neville.

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Minister, for being here today.

I have a lot of questions and I know our time is limited, so I hope we can be economical with the answers, for lack of a better word.

We went through the performance report, Madam Chair, and it says that in 2008-09 Status of Women Canada sought to achieve a strategic outcome. After glancing through the 2009 public accounts, we note in volume two that it appears there was some lapsed funding--and the funding is cited on page 526--in our contributions for women's programs. The total funds available were $6,600,000 and the total used was approximately $3,474,000. What happened to the additional $3.1 million? Has it been carried over? Will it be distributed elsewhere?

[Cindy Paquette, Director, Corporate Services Directorate, Status of Women Canada]

Do you want me to answer that one first?

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

Please.

[Cindy Paquette]

There was a lapse of $3.6 million in the public accounts, but $2.4 million of that was carried forward to this fiscal year. We have multi-year projects and we wanted to put the money in the years where we thought it would be used.

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

That's fine, thank you.

Minister, we've gone through the employee public service report, which I'm sure you're familiar with, and it gives us some concern. I cite page 24 of the report. It's a lengthy report. When you go through all of the questions, the office of the coordinator of the status of women frequently is below the numbers for the Public Service of Canada for satisfaction, and frequently below the small organizations. But I particularly want to cite the question answered: “I feel that the quality of my work suffers because of… lack of stability in my department.” Certainly, your office does not come out very well. It's well below the other small organizations.

Can you comment on that?

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

I'll have Nanci-Jean respond to that one.

[Nanci-Jean Waugh, Director General, Communications and Strategic Planning Directorate, Status of Women Canada]

Over the course of the last period of time, we've had a number of changes take place at Status of Women Canada. We have had new terms and conditions for the program. We have had a number of new initiatives that have been started. So we have been in a period of change and transition, which I believe is quite natural for some difficulties.

As a result of the employees survey, one of the activities we had undertaken was a wellness initiative, to work with the staff more, to be able to look at the root causes of some of the concerns and problems that we had. We've moving forward with that wellness initiative.

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

Thank you.

Undoubtedly you've gone through the whole performance review. In most categories the Status of Women organization is substantially below either the public service average or the small offices and organizations.

Can you tell me, is there a new coordinator appointed? Is there now some stability in the department? Everything we are hearing, everything we are seeing, the reports--they all indicate a significant lack of stability in the office. Given that it's not a large office, what's happening there?

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

I can advise you that we do have a new coordinator. I think she will be starting December 14. She is here today, and her name is Suzanne Clément.

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

Congratulations.

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

She's an outstanding woman, and I think her expertise and what she brings to the table and the knowledge that she already has on the files will be very helpful as we go forward.

Let me also say that the officials we have--those I've come to know since I became the minister--think we've had a really good working relationship. We've worked very hard together. We're small but we're mighty. Let me say that they have accomplished a great deal, and they should be exceptionally proud of the work they produce. Honestly, looking at the size of our agency and comparing it to other agencies that have far more officials, we're right at the same level of production as they are. So I have to give them a round of applause for the incredible work they're doing.

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

I recognize that they work hard, but I also recognize after going through this report that there are some serious issues in the office. I'm pleased to hear that you're addressing them, because the work is important.

You talk frequently about aboriginal women. I appreciate that, and you know my concerns in that area. You mentioned some of the contributions you made last year, including the repeal of section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act and advancing legislation on matrimonial real property. Can you give us some details on what contributions you gave to the following pieces of legislation and what actions your government is prepared to take with matrimonial real property legislation? Undoubtedly you know that NWAC, the AFN Women's Council, and several other high-profile women are very concerned about the legislation. I'm wondering whether in your activities you have read the report of the rapporteur Mr. Prentice appointed, Wendy Grant-John, who made some very deliberate and pointed recommendations on that piece of legislation.

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

I'm not the lead on that file, as you're more than well aware--it's Minister Strahl--but I can tell you that we will continue to work with all the aboriginal organizations, including the women, to ensure they are alongside as we go through this process to ensure that they have the same matrimonial property rights as all Canadians enjoy.

I can assure you that at the cabinet table I do engage in these conversations, but I know that you know that those cabinet conversations are confidential.

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

Do I have any time?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

No, that's it, Ms. Neville.

Go ahead, Monsieur Desnoyers.

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Welcome, Madam Minister.

We have heard about and are hearing about possible budget cuts. That worries me a lot when it's about the status of women. Could there be cuts like that in this budget? As you stated, there is still a great deal to be done. I think a lot of money is needed. Ms. Neville was talking aboriginal persons and all the projects and programs which you mentioned and which have been put forward. That is my first question.

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

The answer is no.

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

It's no.

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

Right now, our government proudly boasts that the funding for Status of Women Canada is at its highest level in Canada's history. I have already commented on the increases in the number of projects in grassroots organizations that are now supported. It's a 69% increase, but 42% of that is for the first time, which is significant. On the violence pillar alone, about 117 projects at $23 million are going on right now.

So no, we don't anticipate. We put the funds there for a good reason. We just had a call for proposal, and I'm looking forward to making some significant announcements in the very near future on the projects that we'll be funding going forward.

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

You say you spend more on advocacy for women's rights than on basic research and all aspects of lobbying for women's rights. When we see what there is currently, it seems there is not a lot. I would like to hear a bit of what you have to say on that subject.

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

I'm not sure if you're familiar with any of my background, but I did seven and a half years in rape crisis training and crisis intervention. The statistics on violence against women right now are actually the same, so I was shocked when I came into this position to notice that, to have it highlighted for me that things hadn't changed.

Obviously, when a new government comes in, they do things differently, and we made some significant changes at Status of Women. We made a decision that we would be supporting the grassroots organizations and that we would be looking to those organizations that are considered experts not only on the ground and on the front line, but in their individual communities, so there are now hundreds of projects going on at the grassroots level in all communities across the country. They are helping women in line with the three pillars that I spoke of earlier and that I announced.

I think it's really important to recognize that these grassroots organizations know what the individual communities need. I'd also like to highlight for you that I am the first minister appointed to be solely dedicated to the Status of Women, and that is, in my mind, a strong advocacy position.