Evidence of meeting #58 for Status of Women in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was organizations.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, Innovations, Analysis and Integration Directorate, Department of Justice
Not necessarily, because they would probably come under the criminal law section.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Ms. Clément, did the department ask you for any training programs to undertake this kind of study, given that you are the champions of gender-based issues?
Coordinator, Head of Agency, Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women Canada
We communicate with the Department of Justice, just as we do with other departments, about training for gender-based analysis. We did not receive a specific request for a such a study, but we do it at the institutional level.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Yes, but since there are so many problems, especially in terms of female aboriginal prisoners, do you not think it would be commendable to do such a study, in order to really hone in on the problems and fix them? Otherwise, it is just a vicious cycle.
Coordinator, Head of Agency, Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women Canada
I can only agree with you, because it is commendable to do a gender-based analysis of the federal government's policies, programs and services.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
What must you do, then, in order for the department to be able to undertake such a study? Can you suggest it?
Coordinator, Head of Agency, Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women Canada
Yes. That is what we do when any piece of legislation or policy is being developed. In addition, whenever the government introduces a bill or a new policy, the department has an obligation to show that this exercise was undertaken.
Bloc
Coordinator, Head of Agency, Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women Canada
I cannot confirm that now. I can check and get back to you on that, but I do know that nothing can happen at the central agency without that kind of research.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
I would like a detailed outline of the bills that seek to impose minimum sentences to see whether they have an effect on women.
Ms. Clément, can you tell me why production costs for the Women in Canada publication were not included in your operating costs in Status of Women Canada's main and supplementary estimates?
Coordinator, Head of Agency, Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women Canada
The costs?
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
I am referring to the publication costs of Women in Canada. Senior officials told the committee that funds were transferred. During our review of the supplementary estimates, we learned that funds were transferred for the Women in Canada publication. Status of Women Canada funds were used instead of including the costs in your regular budget.
Coordinator, Head of Agency, Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women Canada
Numerous departments contribute to the publication costs of Women in Canada. Approximately 12 departments make a financial contribution. Some departments have transferred the funds to our budget, but others are going to pay those costs directly.
Are you referring to the $25,000 and $10,000?
Coordinator, Head of Agency, Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women Canada
Those were the amounts contributed by Health Canada and the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec to Status of Women Canada in order to pay Statistics Canada.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Madame Demers, I'm sorry, but we've gone well over time. Thank you.
Now I am going to go to Ms. Mathyssen from the NDP.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you for staying and providing some supplementary answers.
I think I want to continue on from Madame Demers in terms of questions about the operation of Status of Women Canada. It's my understanding that it is responsible for providing strategic policy advice and gender-based analysis support in regard to the women's program. So essentially, I believe, it would be correct to say that Status of Women provides advice to other ministries and organizations within government.
That leads me back to the question I asked the minister in regard to the rescinding of research and advocacy in 2006 within the department. Things are I think presenting a rather grim picture. For example, in regard to gender equality rankings by the World Economic Forum, Canada has slipped from 14th in 2006 to 31st in 2008. When you see those kinds of statistics, it's very clear that there is a huge wage gap between men and women, and we're not making the kind of progress....
Do you have an opportunity to live up to your function as providing strategic policy advice? Are you asked? Did anyone ask you about the wage gap? Did anybody ask you about the fact that the long-form census will no longer require a question about unpaid work? Did anybody ask you about the impact that the loss of the research component would have on Sisters in Spirit?
Coordinator, Head of Agency, Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women Canada
Status of Women Canada is responsible for the coordination of policy and the implementation of GBA across federal organizations. We belong to the groups of ministries or departments that are invited to all of the interdepartmental committees in preparation for any new legislation or policy. Our role in those meetings is one of providing advice on gender issues and ensuring that an analysis is done and the impact is measured. That would happen with any matter going before cabinet for a decision.
In terms of women in Canada, the funding has been provided by a group of departments that believe in the use of that information and that research in developing their policy and in developing their programs. I was very pleased to see the reaction by departments and the willingness to work with us and Statistics Canada to ensure we have the kinds of information needed to do some informed policy.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
So you don't feel at all hobbled by the fact that the data you'll be receiving--because there is no research, because there is no long-form census--will be compromised?
Coordinator, Head of Agency, Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women Canada
We've had assurances from Stats Can--we had meetings with Statistics Canada at the time of the decision--that the information we have been using as part of our “Women in Canada” report will be sustained and in fact improved. For example, on the unpaid work chapter, through the GSS and the NHS we'll be getting more information and more data than we have had in the past.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
I'd like to shift gears and talk to the folks from Justice.
Last week there was a very significant case in Manitoba. A judge gave a convicted rapist basically a slap on the wrist. The judge blamed the victim, saying essentially that she was provocative and her behaviour on the night of the attack was flirtatious, and essentially dismissing the seriousness of the charge.
This has sent some very negative signals to the women's community. I can tell you that for years and years women have tried, with some limited success, to push back against those kinds of attitudes. It seems to me that at the root of this is a lack of understanding, of training.
Will the department and would Status of Women also be vigorous in terms of ensuring that all judges receive appropriate gender-based training? Now, I know the argument about—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Ms. Mathyssen, we are over our time.
I'm going to give Ms. Clément 15 seconds to have a quick answer. We have work to do here.
Justice, will you please answer, in about 15 seconds?
Senior Counsel, Office of the Senior General Counsel, Family, Children and Youth Section, Department of Justice
What I can say again is to undertake one more time to get you that information. The Department of Justice has been working for many years with judicial education institutions to talk about mandatory training, but of course, as you realize, training is done at arm's length from the Department of Justice, within the judicial community.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you.
I want to thank the witnesses for being here.
We really have some business to do right now. I would like us to go in camera for the business, please. This means that everyone who can vacate the room should do so.
We have another meeting coming in at 1 o'clock, so could everyone be very quick please?
[Proceedings continue in camera]