Evidence of meeting #35 for Status of Women in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was school.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Wai Young Conservative Vancouver South, BC
I take great exception to the fact that you've now stated that I've cut the witness off, which I didn't feel I did. I felt that I asked a question, which she answered, and I was ready to move on to my next question. So I take great offence to that, actually, from the chair.
Anyway, I apologize for that, because often we're in a situation where we only have seven minutes, and in this case I probably....
Excuse me, Chair, how many more minutes do I have?
NDP
The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin
We stopped the clock, Ms. Young. You have three and a half minutes left.
Conservative
Wai Young Conservative Vancouver South, BC
Three and one half minutes? Okay.
We're always pressured, unfortunately, for time. It's not that I didn't want you to get into more detail, but I do have other more important questions....
Excuse me, does the member opposite want to say something?
Liberal
Conservative
Wai Young Conservative Vancouver South, BC
I'm sorry, I just thought you might want an opportunity to say something.
Anyway, I wanted to ask you what you thought of the recent call for proposals to prevent violence against women in post-secondary campuses. This is a new program that Status of Women is putting out a proposal call on. You were just saying that you have a good relationship with the department, that the department has worked closely with you in developing innovative programs.
So what do you think of this program?
Executive Director, Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women
I think it's excellent. I do not believe the minister has made the announcement of who has obtained the grants yet. We put forward an application and we have a very strong community in Ottawa in the violence against women sector. We were able to get all four campuses involved in some capacity and we are continuing to reach out. So we are well aware of the program and we put forward an application.
Conservative
Wai Young Conservative Vancouver South, BC
That's excellent. I also want to commend you for the work you're doing with men and boys.
Ms. Reid, do you have any comments to make at this point?
Chair, Public Engagement Committee, Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women
No, not yet. We're very proud of the work that we're doing with men and boys. We see it as quite revolutionary in Ottawa. There hasn't been a lot of work with men and boys in ending violence against women. So we're quite proud of our project and where it's going.
Conservative
Wai Young Conservative Vancouver South, BC
Do you think that this is an area in which the department has been innovative? Obviously, it's the majority of men that are doing violence against women. So that's a very interesting and innovative way for the department to work.
Executive Director, Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women
From the conversations we've had with Status of Women, I think they have been interested in working with men and boys, discussing masculinity and what violence against women looks like. We've had conversations in regard to recognizing balance. We know that funding, unfortunately at times, does go in trend formats and does not always stick with an issue long enough to get something resolved and achieve sustainable change.
We are also encouraging that there be a balance in allowing a space to mentor young women, to be able to support survivors, and a space to encourage men and boys to discuss masculinity and engage in that change. Our coalition wants to ensure that we're supporting men through programs like I Can MANifest Change, while acknowledging that our young women need to be empowered because it's an inequitable society that they're growing up in.
Conservative
Wai Young Conservative Vancouver South, BC
We had the Girls Action Foundation appear before us and they recommended mentorship and diverse role models. They recommended educating boys and young men, which we've already talked about, and implementing and expanding programs to reduce gender harassment.
Would you support their recommendations in this area?
Executive Director, Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women
Yes, I think so.
NDP
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
Thank you very much, Ms. Reid and Ms. Lomatski, for your excellent presentation and for sharing the very important work you do with women here in Ottawa.
I was looking through the excellent handbook you gave out. You reference the importance of access to abortion services. Respecting the reproductive rights of young women is a critical piece involved in their well-being. But unfortunately, we've also seen that the current government has been willing to reopen the abortion debate and turn back the clock on women's reproductive rights.
As a young woman myself, and as part of a generation that knows how important—
Conservative
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
My understanding—and I really, truly want to understand this as opposed to getting.... I want to learn.
A number of us here are new members. We are all aware that there is a private member's bill. It is not a government position. The government position is clear.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
But it is a point of order.
Is it allowed for a colleague around this table to make an unfactual remark about a government that has clearly taken a position against this private member's bill? I need clarification on this, because I really don't understand how somebody can say something like that.
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
This is a point of debate, and if we're going to debate it, let's find another time. I'd rather continue to ask the witnesses who have come here—
Conservative
Conservative
Stella Ambler Conservative Mississauga South, ON
No. I'm speaking to Madam Bateman's point of order.
