Status of Women Committee on April 28th, 2014

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

I want to commend all the members, all parliamentarians, who participated. Obviously, this is an extremely important issue and the contributions by all members who participated on the committee and otherwise was extremely valuable.

More importantly, the contributions of families and organizations that have been impacted by this issue, their contributions are the most important. Similar to the committee, that is what I've heard, that they would like action.

Our government has taken, as I say, some actions to deal with this tragic issue, whether that be the development of the new DNA database, or whether that be community pilot projects in order to make aboriginal communities safer. Our focus is taking action and I would like to commend all of the members of the committee from all parties for their participation because I think it was outstanding work, and we will be coming forward with a government response.

[Stella Ambler, Conservative, Mississauga South, ON]

Thank you, and I'd like to say thank you to you as well for taking the issue so seriously as minister. We do appreciate the work that you've done and the consultation that you have done with aboriginal groups and the families, the victims and the families of the victims as well. On behalf of the Government of Canada you have made us proud in that regard. We appreciate that.

I'd like to talk about the commemorative days because I had some good personal experiences this year with women's history month and the recently celebrated international women's week, March 2 to 8, with International Women's Day falling on Saturday, March 8. I attended a couple of events commemorating these special days. On Friday, March 7, I went to a fundraising dinner event coordinated by the Peel Committee Against Woman Abuse, which is a group of women I know well in my community who do terrific work on behalf of vulnerable women in Peel. The next day, on March 8, I was in Thunder Bay to speak to FCM, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, women's political panel. They have a standing committee, the purpose of which is to increase women's participation in municipal government. It was a great meeting, very well attended, and I met dozens of bright, ambitious women from across Ontario who are running for office.

I guess I'm wondering what you did to celebrate women's accomplishments, and what the ministry did to highlight women's issues during the International Women's Day and week this year.

I'm sure I don't have to tell you, but the theme was strong women, strong Canada. That's how the running-for-office theme fit in. It highlighted women entrepreneurs, Canadian women creating jobs, one business at a time.

Maybe you could tell us a bit about your experiences there.

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

Thank you very much.

The one thing I will comment on is that I want to commend all parliamentarians. We had individuals from all parties, from all parts of the country, participating in events for International Women's Day, and I think that speaks volumes for Canada's interest and focus on this area, making sure that individuals across the country are participating. I was delighted with the interest and uptake of not just parliamentarians of my own party but also the NDP and the Liberals who I think were—

You're going to cut me off, aren't you?

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Yes, but thank you very much.

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

Thank you to everyone for participating.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Thank you very much.

Ms. Sellah, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Minister, thank you for being with us. I also thank the officials from your department.

You probably know that we are currently focusing on a study of the economic leadership and prosperity of Canadian women, as well as their successes and the challenges they face.

You referred to the 2012 Economic Action Plan and women who occupy important positions in enterprises. That plan mentioned the creation of a working group to increase the number of women on the boards of directors of companies.

During our previous meetings, we welcomed two representatives from Status of Women Canada. We asked them what the conclusions of that working group were and if the objective had been attained. Unfortunately, they were unable to answer us. I would like to put the same question to you, Minister.

Can you share with us the results obtained by the working group set up in 2012? Also, can you tell us what funds were allocated to it?

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

Thank you very much.

I think the initiative that was undertaken under our previous minister is exceptionally important, and I had the good fortune of inheriting the advisory board. I've worked intensely with them. We have developed a report that I have submitted to the Prime Minister and I'm waiting for his response to that. We should know very soon, all of us, what the response to that is, and I'll be delighted to share it with Canadians.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Madam Minister, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that my colleague here tabled motion M-444 to create a national action plan to fight violence against women. This plan would include funds for the Native Women's Association of Canada, as well as a national inquiry into the disappearance or murder of aboriginal women.

Can you tell us whether the government intends to consider and to put into effect the motion introduced by my colleague Niki Ashton?

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

Thank you for the question.

I will agree with you that action is needed. We've taken action, and we'll continue to do that. As I mentioned before, whether it's our newest response and additional funding for the DNA database; whether it's the funding for the national centre for missing persons, which I know that many Canadians are committed to and focused on; or whether it be the development of a new national action plan to combat human trafficking or other issues that deal with violence against women and girls, these are all actions. I think we actually all do have common cause.

My hope is that when it comes to violence against women and girls, whether it's aboriginal Canadian women or otherwise, we all stay focused on the goal at hand. I think if we all look at the goal, which is elimination of violence against women and girls, we can all come to common cause to actually do that. My hope is that we all focus on that, and we take actions towards that so that all Canadian women are beneficiaries.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Madam Minister, long before I was elected, I met with groups of aboriginal women who wanted an inquiry to be held. They wanted to find out the truth about these persons who have disappeared or been murdered.

Do you think you could ask for a national inquiry that would attempt to shed light on the deaths and disappearances of these aboriginal women?

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

Well, as I mentioned before, what I'm hearing from families and what I'm hearing from organizations representing aboriginal Canadian women is that they want action. I can repeat exactly what I said before, but they've been very clear with me, as most recently as Saturday in Kenora. They would like action taken.

We've taken action on a number of items raised by these families, and I continue to ask them about what the most important things are for us to focus on. As I outlined, in economic action plan 2014 there is additional funding to address the issues that were raised at the special standing committee but also the issues that these families are raising. I'll continue to focus on taking action, as they have requested of me.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Thank you, Minister.

Mr. Young, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Welcome to our committee.

Status of Women Canada is very focused on preventing violence against women and girls, and doing so through engaging with the community and changing attitudes towards women. For example, your recent call for proposals about combatting cyberviolence and sexual violence invited communities to propose solutions and programs that lent peer-to-peer support around these problems and offered measures that came from the communities themselves.

We know that in order to work toward eliminating violence against women and girls, we need to engage all members of society, so I want to ask you specifically about the roles that men and boys have to play in this. Could you please inform the committee about what kinds of projects you've been involved in that are aimed specifically at men and boys? What is it that makes them effective?

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

Thank you very much for the question.

First off, just with respect to our most recent call for proposals on cyberviolence and sexual violence, I'm delighted that we've had numerous projects that had been recommended by local communities. I even had the good pleasure in Winnipeg on Friday of doing a project announcement at the Klinic, as it's called, to support a wide range of organizations throughout rural and remote Manitoba and their shelter system to make sure that victims of sexual assaults are supported.

With respect to men and boys, the issue that has come forward is making sure that young men are well educated on what is appropriate behaviour. Status of Women Canada receives a number of proposals, but two that actually have had a substantive impact, and continue to, are those linked with what I think young men are interested in, individuals who they want to emulate in society. Whether that be a person who's an athletic giant or whether that be an elder in their community, these are the most effective organizational proposals.

One that I've been involved in I'm delighted is having a great impact. I've been out to see exactly what they're doing. It's one with the Toronto Argonauts. It's called, as I mentioned before, Huddle Up & Make the Call. The Toronto Argonauts, with the White Ribbon campaign, are working in high schools across Toronto to make sure that young men understand what appropriate behaviour should be so that they treat women appropriately.

We see the BC Lions doing exactly the same thing. They have some extremely effective videos that I have to say truly, I think, will change behaviour. In addition to that, we've most recently seen the Winnipeg Blue Bombers step up to the plate. They are developing their own new program, implementing it on the ground in Winnipeg and across Manitoba.

So I think there are great opportunities. We're open to other ideas of what would be opportunities to have a men and boys engagement campaign to reduce violence against women and girls. This is a whole society approach. It's not just about saying that this attitude, this process, was bad; it's about making sure that these young people who may be perpetuating crimes actually understand what appropriate behaviour is.

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Thank you.

Last month you attended the 58th meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and you had the opportunity to meet delegates from all over the world and a number of opportunities to speak.

Could you please tell the committee what types of issues you highlighted to your fellow delegates during the announcement you made in New York on forced marriages?

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

Well, as I mentioned in my comments earlier, Canada has taken a substantive leadership role in early, child, and forced marriages. This is abhorrent, unacceptable behaviour. This is something that needs to be eradicated.

The impact this has on young women across the globe, affecting millions of young women across the globe, whether it be that they do not have access to education because of their experience or because of the serious health risks that they're put in the position to feel.... It is incredible. We know that if a young woman under the age of 18 becomes pregnant, the chances of her child having a decreased quality of life or having an anomaly are substantially higher than if that woman is over 18. We know that the risk of death of that young woman through her pregnancy is even higher...let alone the other health care issues that can arise.

So the huge issue of eradicating early, child, and forced marriage is something Canada has taken a leadership role in. We put forward the first motion at the United Nations. We're going to continue to stand up for the rights of girls and women and that's something I think all Canadians should be very proud of, because this is something that some people may have an issue with. But it's not about doing the expedient thing. It's about doing the right thing to make sure that women's rights are upheld not just here in Canada but across the globe.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Thank you very much.

Ms. Crockatt, you now have the floor for five minutes.

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Thank you so much.

Thank you very much, Minister, for being here. I know we all feel you're providing an absolutely phenomenal role model for women, young women, women in Alberta, who we lay claim to in coming from Fort McMurray, and someone who has really succeeded in what was once primarily a men's occupation, both in medicine and in politics. So thank you for your leadership there.

I thought the idea you were bringing forward at the beginning about the top three things that are going to improve women's economic position was really important. I wonder if you could expand on that a bit. I believe that mentorship and financial preparedness were two of them, but can you tell us about what you feel we need to really focus on in order to improve women's economic position in our society?

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

Thank you very much for the question.

Our new call for proposals does focus on the three areas that Status of Women Canada...and what we heard across the country about where it is that women thought we should focus.

The first is mentorship. That is what I hear the most about, making sure there's an individual there to aid you in starting your company, maintaining your company, and growing your company, not just domestically but also internationally. In addition, champions, sponsors.... There is a difference between the two and I can say this, having been championed in my two professional careers by two different people—the last time I checked, Dr. John Wedge was not a parliamentarian and Jim Flaherty was not a surgeon. Having a champion at the table who is willing to put your name forward and provide you with opportunities is extremely important. So that's the intent behind our call for proposals and also the economic action plan 2014's program.

As I mentioned before, we're open to ideas and I'm doing cross-country consultations on building the most robust program on this. It's making sure that we are providing women with that mentorship and sponsorship.

The second is the focus on financial preparedness and it's not just financial preparedness for the woman who's starting her business or the woman who might not know the basics of financial preparedness. I've heard from many women across the country that they have a small business with eight or 10 people working for them and there is great potential for expansion but they don't necessarily know what all those component parts are that are required for financial literacy and where to focus for growth. So we are making sure that those tools are made available to them to help them grow their businesses, which I think provide great opportunities for Canadians across the country. It will increase the number of jobs available.

Also, and I think importantly, we know that women-led businesses employ more women, disproportionately, and that provides a great opportunity for more women to be employed in the economy in areas that they may find of substantive interest.

Our last area is focusing on professionalism and various professions, including as I mentioned the skilled professional trades, and making sure that women who are interested in those areas have the skill sets they need to be successful. So looking forward to this, I encourage all parliamentarians and Canadians across the country to please apply. This should be an excellent opportunity for Canadians to benefit.

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

I believe you have touched on this, but I think it's critical that we all understand it. Can you talk to us about the opportunities for the government to actually fund women through Status of Women Canada, so that they can participate in these opportunities?

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

We have two opportunities. One is through the continuous intake program and one is through our call for proposals.

The call for proposals has specific deadlines and themes. But the continuous intake allows any Canadian to apply 365 days of the year to Status of Women Canada at www.women.gc.ca, in any one of our three core areas. Whether that be violence against women and girls, whether that be economic security and prosperity, or whether that be women taking on leadership roles, these are the three areas we cover.

I've been trying to encourage many not-for-profit organizations and individuals across the country to apply. It's a great program. Our public servant staff do a fabulous job of working with organizations to make sure they can meet the criteria and implement an excellent program. Our programs are not just for a single year. They're 24, sometimes up to 36 months. It's not just one-stop shopping, quick funding, and out. Unlike other departments, we have longer programs. Organizations can become sustainable and can grow the opportunity they've been provided.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Madam Minister, thank you very much for having made yourself available and for having answered the questions of the members of the committee.

Thank you to everyone.

We will now suspend the hearing for a few minutes as we get rearranged.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Good afternoon, everyone. We will resume our meeting.

We still have with us Ms. Savoie and Ms. Lapointe, whom I have already introduced. They are joined by Mr. Daniel Sansfaçon, Director General, Policy and External Relations at Status of Women Canada.

Welcome, Mr. Sansfaçon. Since you will not be making a statement, I will invite you to begin answering our questions straightaway. We will go into it cold, as we say.

I also want to inform the members of the committee that we are going to be ending the meeting about 10 minutes before the planned ending time, because of the vote on appropriations.

We will begin with Ms. Young.

You have seven minutes.

[Wai Young, Conservative, Vancouver South, BC]

Thank you so much.

Of course I want to thank the people from the Status of Women department for being here today and for always providing excellent information and sharing when they come to committee.

I have a number of questions. We've just asked questions and received answers from the minister about program funds and program priorities and all those sorts of things, so I think we have at least a good context and basis to start the second round of questions.

The Status of Women department is one of the smaller departments within government. What I want to know specifically is how you work with other departments and what you do with other departments to leverage and/or work with those other departments to ensure that some amount of their funding goes toward women-specific programming?

What I'm trying to say is that of course your department is not the only department doing work for or providing program funds to women. There are many others. Let me give you an example. Employment Canada has training programs and so on specifically for women, so how do you work with other big departments that are also doing work and/or programming for women?