On the issue of protecting women from human traffickers and preventing serious crimes and human rights violations, I firmly support the bill initially brought forward by my Conservative colleague, Joy Smith, to impose a mandatory minimum penalty of five years' imprisonment for trafficking a person under the age of 18 years.
Our government's campaign to increase public awareness and encourage the reporting of suspected cases of human trafficking has been widely praised by both the legal community and victims' groups.
Some of the most important measures that our government has taken, though, are those that will help some of the most vulnerable and disenfranchised women in this country--aboriginal women. That is why we have reintroduced the Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act, which will significantly improve the quality of life for aboriginal women and children living on reserves by providing them with basic rights and remedies on fair division of property.
It is frankly inexcusable that in the 20th century in Canada, aboriginal women, one of the most disenfranchised groups in Canada, do not have the same rights under the law that the rest of us are entitled to.
Our government has also introduced the Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act, to amend two discriminatory provisions in the Indian Act, thus enabling the grandchildren of aboriginal women who lost their status unjustly to register.
This year's budget also provides funding to address the disturbingly high number of missing and murdered aboriginal women. As you know, we will be taking concrete actions to ensure that law enforcement and the justice system meet the needs of aboriginal women and their families.
Madam Chair, as Minister for Status of Women, it is a privilege for me to work on improving women's lives. I am extremely proud of the work done by our government for women here and abroad.
I hope that we will be able to work together to truly improve the lives of women and children in some of the poorest countries of the world, as well as the lives of the most vulnerable women here, in Canada.
Thank you.