Evidence of meeting #25 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 gap.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Could you tell me an organization that has better opportunities for women—
National President, Executive Office, Public Service Alliance of Canada
I will tell you right now that this government is in the midst of downsizing. Over 20,000 positions have been cut—
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Excuse me.
You're getting off topic, please. This is my time—
National President, Executive Office, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Yes, and I'm just trying to explain to you about—
NDP
The Chair NDP Hélène LeBlanc
Pardon me, Mr. Young, but perhaps you could give the witness time to answer.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Yes, but Madam Chair, I only have so much time and I want to get some answers to some questions. I would like to have the questions that I asked answered. We've heard about the downsizing, etc. I listened very carefully to your presentation. I'm saying, overall, I'm very interested in the answer. I thought the federal civil service was a really good place for women to work, for opportunity in the workplace.
If that's not true, what organization is better?
National President, Executive Office, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Okay.
As a woman who has 35 years with the federal government, I will tell you what we experience, overall. There is harassment in the workplace. There is undue stress in the workplace. This government, through Treasury Board, is now looking at mental health issues within the workplace. I'm not saying—
Conservative
National President, Executive Office, Public Service Alliance of Canada
I would assume they do, sir, but I'm telling what information I have from my membership with respect to the undue stress, the downsizing that is putting more work onto them. It is predominantly a female s workforce that is now, for the most part, in the sandwich generation, I would suggest to you. So those who have 25-plus years' experience are still looking after children at home and now elderly parents.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Thank you. I realize all those facts, etc., but I'm saying that compared to other organizations, the rules and the procedures, and the rights of workers that are in place, I've always thought the federal government was one of the best places for a woman to work in. Is that not true?
Human Rights Program Officer, Membership Programs Branch, Public Service Alliance of Canada
I'm just going to give you some statistics from a 2011 Public Service Employee Survey, where women responded—
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
No, thank you. That doesn't help me.
I'm saying compared to other organizations, other governments, or other private sector companies. We've heard from private sector operators, for example, the lady who ran Lululemon, of all the accommodations they had made for women in the workplace. They don't have meetings before 9 in the morning. They don't have meetings after 4 o'clock in the afternoon. They have 16% bonuses for people in the middle-pay group, which we thought were really good and would really assist women in prosperity, which is what the subject of this investigation is.
You're telling us what you're unhappy with in the federal workplace. I've been at Bell Canada when we cut 10,000 employees in three years, so I know what that's like.
But I'm saying that, overall, in the structure, and in the rules, in the processes, in the rights of workers, in the things you have bargained for, isn't the federal workplace a good place to work for women; in fact, better than almost any other?
National President, Executive Office, Public Service Alliance of Canada
I guess then we will have to agree to disagree because your own employee survey says it is not—
Conservative
National President, Executive Office, Public Service Alliance of Canada
No, sir, I cannot—
NDP
The Chair NDP Hélène LeBlanc
Mr. Young, Ms. Benson, just a moment please. A point of order has been raised.
Ms. Ashton, the clock has been stopped, so your time will not be cut short.
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
I’m disturbed by this kind of attitude, I mean, it’s badgering of witnesses.
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
If Mr. Young is not hearing the answers he wants to get, that's not the witness’s problem, and I'm concerned about how that kind of attitude reflects on the way this committee usually treats witnesses, which is with significant respect.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
I’m concerned about the condescension that this member has for the House and this committee for other members—
NDP
The Chair NDP Hélène LeBlanc
One moment, Mr. Young.
Thank you, Ms. Ashton.
Mr. Young, did you want to say something to me?
Did you have something you want to ask me?