Evidence of meeting #18 for Status of Women in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was entrepreneurs.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Senior Director General, Women's Program and Regional Operations Directorate, Status of Women Canada
Yes. I have some data on that. I believe the last report of the Conference Board of Canada indicated us as in 11th place.
Senior Director General, Women's Program and Regional Operations Directorate, Status of Women Canada
There's been some consistent progress over the last three—
NDP
The Chair NDP Hélène LeBlanc
Ms. Savoie, I have to interrupt you for a minute.
Ms. Crockatt, did you want to say something?
Conservative
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Thank you very much, Madame Chair. On a point of order, I'm wondering about the line of questioning that's being pursued here. Since we are talking about women entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurs primarily work for themselves, they are not in the situation where they're—
NDP
The Chair NDP Hélène LeBlanc
Actually, the scope of the study also talks about prosperity and economic leadership, not only about entrepreneurship.
I will allow the question to continue. The clock was stopped.
You may continue.
Senior Director General, Women's Program and Regional Operations Directorate, Status of Women Canada
Yes, Canada ranked 11th in the last report. I think our ranking has been fairly consistent.
Senior Director General, Women's Program and Regional Operations Directorate, Status of Women Canada
That's correct.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you. I'm going to quote some data. In 2005 there was a Royal Bank of Canada report that estimated that lost income potential of women in Canada due to the wage gap was $126 billion a year. I'm wondering if Status of Women has ever undertaken a similar study? Do we have data for Canada from Status of Women Canada?
Senior Director General, Women's Program and Regional Operations Directorate, Status of Women Canada
On that specific amount? You mean something newer than the Royal Bank of Canada report?
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
No. Have we undertaken a study of what we're losing to the economy? If we look at U.K. Women's Business Council, there was a 2013 study of the increased economic growth by 0.5% per year. You would see potential gains of 10% by 2013. There was a 2009 study by the Australian government that found that removing the negative effects of the wage gap could add $56 billion, so I'm wondering if the Status of Women Canada has ever undertaken a similar study?
Senior Director General, Women's Program and Regional Operations Directorate, Status of Women Canada
No, we haven't.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Okay, thank you.
I'm wondering what has replaced question 33 of the national household survey, which gathered data on time spent on unpaid work.
Senior Director General, Women's Program and Regional Operations Directorate, Status of Women Canada
I believe my colleagues at Statistics Canada would be in the best position to respond to that. We rely on their advice and expertise to ensure we have comparable data year over year. We had assurances at the time that this was going to be information that was not going to injure the quality of our data, but I can't speak to it in any more detail.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
To the clerk, should we be asking Statistics Canada that question? Can they assure us that the—
Conservative
Wai Young Conservative Vancouver South, BC
We're just starting this new study on the economic prosperity of women entrepreneurs. So granted you may have interest in this across the floor, but obviously our witnesses here do not have the information because this is not what they came in prepared for, nor is it appropriate questioning for the topic at hand. I really would like to say that it's very clear. Let us focus on the topic at hand because that is why they are here.
NDP
The Chair NDP Hélène LeBlanc
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Ms. Young.
Ms. Duncan, please go ahead.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Actually the information is extremely pertinent because question 33 dealt with data spent on unpaid work, and because for women, much of their work is spent on unpaid work, it does hurt their economic security. If we look at a recent study, women are doing 248 minutes of unpaid work versus 146 minutes for men. In order to ensure that women are making progress, we need to have that data.
NDP
The Chair NDP Hélène LeBlanc
Thank you, Ms. Duncan.
Your point is noted. You'll have a chance to put the question to other witnesses. For the time being, however, you should perhaps stick closer to the content of the motion, since that is what our witnesses came prepared for.
Ms. Young, would you care to add something?
Conservative