Evidence of meeting #73 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 community.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Former Chief, Tsawwassen First Nation, As an Individual
That's a consequence of the treaty, but we have the treaty not because of matrimonial property; we have the treaty because we needed to replace the Indian Act. We're integrating into the provincial system, but it doesn't get much more complicated than these types of arrangements.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Wai Young Conservative Vancouver South, BC
That's exactly why I'm asking this question: we all know how complicated it will be to develop an alternative to the Indian Act. It could take 100 years; we don't know. The point is that it will take time.
Meanwhile, we have heard testimony from police officers and from women themselves who have been through this—just like you yourself, Ms. Jack—who have said “We want and need this act now”—
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
5:25 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe
Thank you.
We still have two minutes in front of us. I'm looking to Madame Crowder.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Thank you. I'll try to be brief. I think the human rights commissioner pointed out that if the legislation doesn't provide fair access to justice and the women aren't able to access their rights in a safe way, a question is left about the viability of the act.
Ms. Jack, I want to thank you for pointing out that this is an issue that involves more than women; it's about the family—the whole family structure.
I've had an e-mail from a first nations man saying that he's getting tired of having all men be painted as violent spouses upon marriage breakups. I think of your comments around this as a healing process for the whole family with all the resources and supports there. Women are actually going to be sold a bill of goods—that this piece of legislation will actually make them safer. It will not, without those other supports.
Ms. Jack, I want to give you a moment to respond to that.
Ms. Baird, you mentioned that we're not dealing with the factors around implementation of this piece of legislation.
Could you comment on those two pieces?
5:25 p.m.
Councillor, Berens River First Nation
I want to say that we have two RCMP in Berens River, and there are gaps in the RCMP service. This bill will not stop the women and children from dying in Berens River. I go to those funerals, and it's serious.
This bill is not going to stop anybody dying in Berens River. If a man decides to pick up a knife and in a drunken stupor stab somebody he loves, he's going to do that, because we only have two RCMP in Berens River. This legislation is not going to stop anything like that. It's a much bigger problem, a much bigger issue, and if you've worked on the east side, you would know that.
So it's not going to help anybody not die in Berens River. Unfortunately, it's people like me who are going to go to the house of the man who's beating up the woman and say, “Stop that; that's not the Indian way.” That's what's going to change it, and we need to empower our own community, instead of thinking that some kind of legislation from outside is going to make me safe in my community.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe
Thank you, Councillor Jack.
I have to interrupt the meeting because it is about to end.
Once again, Former Chief Baird, Councillor Jack, thank you very much for appearing before this committee today.
Before concluding the meeting, I would like to remind everyone that tomorrow's meeting will be held at 1 Wellington Street. I would also like to remind the members that they have received an updated calendar with the replies of the witnesses who will be appearing before the committee in the coming days.
The meeting is adjourned.