Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Perhaps I will save you some of the time that you're losing due to the vote. I don't think I'll take the full ten minutes, and I look forward to the questions.
Members of the committee, it is a great honour for me to be asked to appear before you on the status of women and specifically on improving economic prospects for Canadian girls. I'd like to commend the government and the parliamentary process for addressing such a worthwhile and all-encompassing subject.
I think it is worthy to recall where we are in Canada in terms of benchmarking our progress on this issue against other OECD nations. The statistics say we are relatively successful on employment equality vis-à-vis our peers, and we have improved somewhat in terms of pay equity, albeit perhaps too slowly for many of us. We are doing better than we were, and I believe with the sense of purpose this committee brings, we will continue to improve our ranking in gender equality.
Key to the task of improving public policy on the status of women is our ability to measure our outcomes. Whether it's government, commerce, the judiciary, constabulary, or education, it is critical that we are able to measure fact-based results to make objective decisions and choices regarding our future.
In that vein, my first recommendation to the committee is that we reconsider what information is relevant and important to Canadians. And while I completely understand and agree with the need for efficiency in streamlining the long-form census, I also believe that statistical information is required to determine whether our nation is achieving results from the financial and human implementation of our programs directed toward the disabled, impoverished, gender-biased, and first nations, to name just a pressing few.
No doubt the questions need refinement, but good critical analysis is not possible without the right information. So reinstatement of a modernized census that will provide these data sets is, in my mind, vitally important.
My second recommendation and thought for improving the economic prospects for Canadian girls and women is education. I know that Tracy Redies identified education in an earlier hearing, and I couldn't agree more.
In general and on an equal gender basis, our public school curriculum must continue to innovate and evolve with the dynamic world we live in, and our education system is not keeping up with the geopolitical and economic power shifts that are occurring as we speak.
In order for Canada to retain its position and move up the global competitive scale, education of our most precious resource, our children, is paramount so that our girls and our boys can take advantage of future opportunities.
Included in this upgrading and updating of our curricula should be the way women's and men's roles are portrayed. Just as we have educated the public on the health risks of smoking so the knowledge is ingrained and second nature, so should the systemic stereotypical roles of women be abandoned, and the acknowledgement of women in our society from all walks of life, in all job sectors, should be celebrated. And the way to do this is through our public and private schools, K through 12.
As my third recommendation, I'd like to commend Minister Ambrose's strategic plan and encourage the gender analysis contemplated across all levels of government. We in business, academia, and the judiciary should be motivated to do the same. But in doing so, the analysis needs to be transparent and action should be taken, if warranted, in a meaningful way.
I'm personally very disappointed and disturbed by the case of RCMP Staff Sergeant Donald Ray and the lack of or perceived lack of ability that our government and their agencies have to address gross misconduct. Our inability to take actions that match harmful deeds such as this is a significant setback, not just for women but for our society in general.
This leads me to my final point, and that is that inclusion, empathy, and compassion are fundamental characteristics I believe Canadians aspire to. And I believe the world views these qualities as an important aspect of how we are defined. This country was built on determination, integrity, hard work, courage, and enterprise. Against all odds, we have held a vast nation together. Yes, we have made mistakes, but as evidenced by this committee, we strive to learn from our mistakes and correct them.
We cannot be all things to all people. We cannot tolerate the misuse of the public's trust. Consequences for actions are a fact of life, and laws, regulations, and programs that fail to strive for the highest standards will only serve to harm this great nation. Acceptance of anything less than the very best we can be breeds entitlement and promotes mediocrity.
Having said that, I am a big proponent of the Canadian child tax benefit, but I believe it should be available to those who need it most and on a sliding scale, as was proposed in another hearing earlier. Medium- to low-income households need this benefit, especially single moms. If we could increase the value of this benefit it would solve many budget-pinching and economic hardships faced by these families. It would put the decision-making on how expenditures are made where it belongs: in the household. It would free up money for food, education, shelter, and clothes where it's needed and when.
I am passionate about our country, and I am passionate about providing the very best opportunities for our children, both girls and boys, to ensure a vibrant and sustainable Canada for generations to come.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.