Status of Women Committee on April 28th, 2014

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I thank you for the question.

Economic action plan 2014, as have the other budgets, is very focused on job creation and making sure that our economy is sound and growing, and that Canadian families have jobs. One of the main focuses, one I mentioned already in my remarks that I'm very pleased with, is this new investment for women entrepreneurs. There's a $150,000 initial investment in order to develop a robust mentorship program to allow women to be supported, whether in a start-up business or in growing and expanding the business they already have.

A lot of women are only now realizing that there are great economic opportunities for them and their families to have a great quality of life by entering into skilled professional trades. One of the things I have heard since the announcement of the budget this year, which has been so powerful, is the new apprenticeship grant program and loan program. This is an over $100-million investment to make sure that interest-free loans are available, for the first time in Canadian history, for young apprentices. We had heard that a barrier to entry into apprenticeship, whether that be for women or men, was the financial hardship. Now these individuals, just like university students, have an opportunity to access an interest-free loan, and I think this would be very encouraging to young women who are interested in the skilled professional trades.

I was at Durham College about five weeks ago, where I met three outstanding young women: one wants to be a carpenter; another wants to be an electrician; and the other wants to be a pipefitter. I'm a cross between all of those as an orthopedic surgeon. It was outstanding. Not only did they know where their placement was, where they already know a job is available for them, they will also now be financially supported in doing that, and they may go out and run their own business in the future.

I'm delighted with these two substantive initiatives, and I'm hopeful that Canadian women will take full advantage of both.

[Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Conservative, Miramichi, NB]

As you know from visiting my area, Minister, this certainly is good news for the Miramichi area and for all of Canada. We certainly appreciate all you are doing to make these things be of value to our women in the area.

Our committee is studying women's economic prosperity and leadership, and we heard from some very impressive women in business along the way, when we were doing our study.

Could you tell us how the ministry for status of women offers support to women through its funding opportunities?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Initially, just so we're all on the same page, the economic action plan 2012 announced an advisory board for women on boards. It requested that we develop a robust plan in order to encourage women to enter into these leadership roles. But in addition, we have a call for proposals opportunity, and both most recently, for women entrepreneurs, and also in the past, for women in non-traditional roles—skilled professional trades and otherwise. We provided opportunities for local communities to put forward programs, proposals, that they would find the most beneficial to the individuals in their area.

We know there isn't probably the biggest need for a pipefitter in downtown Toronto as there may be in Fort McMurray, Alberta. We do know that we need to make sure we're providing mentorship for women to enter into financial roles in downtown Toronto that we may not see in other areas of the country. I think our local community program approach is one that is appreciated by Canadian women across the country. They can tailor things to meet their local needs, and at the same time we're providing the skill set so that women can enter into the local jobs available to them.

[Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Conservative, Miramichi, NB]

Absolutely.

How much time do we have left? One minute....

Okay, I don’t mean to change the topic, but in our last study, on eating disorders among women and girls, we certainly learned a lot about it and learned things that were really hard to imagine. However, these things are really very important. We are now looking forward to tabling our report.

Would you have any input on this issue or on the study itself?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Well, I will put a little bit of a different hat on. As a pediatric physician, I have met a number of these young women coming through the emergency department or in my clinic. Eating disorders are quite pervasive. Most physicians who take care of children have at one time or another, unfortunately, met one of these young women. This is a devastating disease, and it's devastating because the opportunities for them to be identified still need to be identified, and the issues—

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Dr. Leitch, go ahead very briefly.

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

No problem.

All I will say is that I am delighted that the standing committee undertook this study because I'm sure there was some very meaningful input and information that we can act on in the future. I thank you very much for undertaking it.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Casey, you have the floor for seven minutes.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Dr. Leitch, you indicated in your opening remarks that one of the priority areas for the department is the ending of violence against women and girls. You spoke at some length about programs for the indigenous community, in response to a question from Ms. Ashton.

I'd like to follow up on that, please, with a fairly simple question, Dr. Leitch. Do you accept as fact that indigenous women in Canada experience rates of violence that are significantly higher than the non-indigenous community and that young indigenous women are much more likely to die as a result of violence in Canada than non-indigenous women?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I think the statistics speak for themselves. That's why this government is focused on making sure that we deal with this issue.

We know that the statistics show that aboriginal women experience more violence than non-aboriginal. That's why for me, as the Minister of Status of Women...that's why this government has made this a priority. It's about taking action. It's about making sure that we identify what the issues are that the families identify.

I've spent the last number of weeks travelling across the country and I will continue over the course of the next number of weeks to speak confidentially to families to ask them what their concerns are and where we should be focused. Whether that would be a family that's lost a loved one because they've been murdered or are missing a loved one, which would be beyond challenging to deal with, or if there's a young woman who lives in fear, or a family member who lives in fear of their loved one being the next, I've asked confidentially to speak with families, and I will continue to do that.

This is an issue that must be addressed. Ending violence against women and girls, no matter which Canadian woman it is, has to be addressed. We know those numbers are higher among aboriginal women and we're moving forward with a number of actions in order to make sure we deal with this issue.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Do you accept that more than 800 indigenous women and girls have disappeared or been murdered in Canada?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I don't think the number has been quantified specifically. Status of Women Canada was working with NWAC in order to develop a comprehensive list. We're still waiting on the RCMP to know what that comprehensive list may be in working with NWAC. The number may be lower or it may be higher than that number.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

You would accept that it's very serious?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I think it's an exceptionally serious problem.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Okay.

Dr. Leitch, you are undoubtedly aware that since 1981 there have been 10 royal commissions in Canada. In 1981, we had the commission on newspapers, the Kent commission; in 1986, one on seals and the sealing industry; in 1993-94, one on new reproductive technologies; and some time later, we had one on the Air India bombing when there were 329 people killed. Given the range of the subject matters of previous royal commissions, can you explain why it is that you oppose a royal commission with respect to murdered and missing aboriginal women in Canada?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

It's because I believe action is needed, not more talk.

This is very simple. These families that I have been speaking with have said to me unequivocally, “Please act.” In fact, this extremely articulate young woman came to me in Kenora on Saturday. She was outstanding. She had lost a family member. What she said to me was, “I want action now”, and on a number of different specific items.

That's why I'm out speaking to families. It's not about all of us having a conversation about this, or quite frankly, others having a conversation about it. It's about taking action. Now this government is taking some action, and we need to take more. We recognize that. That's why in economic action plan 2014 there's an additional $25 million placed in the budget, based on what the special committee had done, so that we can focus on what families believe is most appropriate. That's why I'm out speaking to families.

I do speak to them confidentially. The reason I do that is that as a physician I think it's exceptionally important that we treat them with respect and that they get to choose what is divulged to the public or not. That's not for me to choose. That's for a family to choose.

So whether it be the things we've already done, such as the national centre for missing persons or actions that we've taken with the Canadian Police Information Centre, or whether it be our national website or even the website that we have at Status of Women Canada to deal with violence against women and girls, these are some actions that have been taken. But we have allocated in the economic action plan $25 million more in order to specifically deal with the issue of aboriginal murdered and missing women, because it is a top priority.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Do I understand you to say that you oppose a royal commission because you don't think it's necessary?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

No, because I think we need to take action now. Every woman that passes away is one too many. I'd rather take action now than talk to you about it.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

So, we don't need a royal commission because you already know the answers.

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

No. I'm out talking to families who tell me what actions they want taken, and we've already taken a number of actions. We can have a royal conversation about this, Mr. Casey, but this government is about taking action and that's what I would like. That's what I believe these families would like.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

So action in the form of a public hearing in order to allow for people to come forward and tell their stories isn't part of the government's action plan. Is that what you're saying?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

No, Mr. Casey. What I'm saying is that a number of families have told me they've come forward and told their stories. They would like to continue to do so and they have been with me. They did with the special committee. They've told their story so many times they don't want to do that anymore. They want us to take action and that's what we're doing.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Thank you very much.

I now yield the floor to Ms. Ambler for five minutes.

[Stella Ambler, Conservative, Mississauga South, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Dr. Leitch, for being with us today to talk to us about the estimates.

I had a few questions for you, but Mr. Casey's questions were also of interest to me as the chair of the Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women, which I was honoured and privileged to take part in.

I'm sure you'll agree, and perhaps you could tell us about that committee and briefly, whether the government plans to respond to the recommendations. Minister, with the 40 studies that have been done in the last number of years on this issue, do you think those are what the families were referring to when they said, “Enough study, now it's time”?

This committee, which was formed to look into murdered and missing aboriginal women, was struck by a unanimous vote of the House of Commons. It was the 41st study of its kind. Just a brief answer because you've obviously answered a lot of questions about this issue, and it's not really what we're here to talk about.

Do you think that committee did some good work on behalf of parliamentarians here in Canada toward finding the answers? Do you think that those answers were good ones and that the government will likely follow the recommendations made by that committee?