Status of Women Committee on May 24th, 2018

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Thank you. On this important day, the 100th anniversary of some women receiving the right to vote, I think that question is particularly important.

Yes, we've come a long way, but we also have so far to go. Each of you around this table who's gone through the process has a great deal of expertise in this area, so I'm very much looking forward to your study and I'm very much looking forward to the recommendations. I think our most important job in this place is to inspire the next generation of leaders to come and do the work that we've come here to continue.

I think this study is important in many ways. I know that women in politics experience different barriers. We've heard from so many of them. We know that there are barriers around care work. We know that there are barriers around financial access. We know there are barriers in lack of role models. Unless she can see her, she cannot be her. When little girls see women like those around this table in positions of power and influence, as I can tell you my nine-year-old niece certainly does, they think to themselves: if they can do it, I can too. This is why it is so important for each of us to be mindful of the fact that we are leaders and we are role models and that little girls, boys, and gender diverse individuals are looking up to us to lead by example.

That's why I was saddened and, frankly, disturbed to see a member of the Status of Women committee take it upon herself to send cyber and mail violence to one of our colleagues around this table. That is not the way that public resources ought to be used. That is not the way we are expected to behave as politicians. Sure, we can disagree without being disagreeable. Sure, we can have different ideologies, but the disrespect and the online violence that we perpetrate against one another actually sets all of us back.

In terms of the work being done to further enhance women's leadership capacities. I will say we have a pot of money available—and this was announced last year—to support indigenous women's leadership. We're working with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to support a project or series of projects with them. We've invested close to $20 million in supporting women's leadership capacities, including young women, because they are leading today and they have important ideas that need to be heard. All of that work is being done. Your study will be very much appreciated and very timely, frankly, but unless as individuals we lead by example, we are not going to advance the cause that brings us together around this committee table, which is improving the status of women in Canada.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I'd like to know what the government has done to support women entrepreneurs, help them develop or purchase businesses, and to contribute to the Canadian economy by encouraging entrepreneurship among women.

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

A $1.65-billion women entrepreneurship strategy was announced in budget 2018. It includes support for starting up, scaling up, having access to mentorship, and having access to new trade markets. For those living in rural communities, you'll appreciate that through regional development agencies we'll be able to better connect with the needs of individual communities and entrepreneurs who will create jobs for us.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Thank you very much.

We are now going to go on to our second round.

Stephanie Kusie.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

Minister, I find it very rich that you bring this up when you yourself are from a party with numerous cases of sexual harassment in front of it. We the Conservative members take offence at that, so please watch your commentary in what you're saying in regard to the actions of your own party.

Minister, I know that gender-based-violence funding is very important for your government, and I would like to know if you have a specific number of the women and girls who've gone without food and shelter and have suffered significantly as a result of these resources, which I'm sure you had meant to allocate to them, now being reallocated to those who are illegal border crossers.

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Resources that are supporting irregular immigrants are not being taken away from others. I want to clarify that.

Gender-based-violence funding is important to all Canadians, not just our government, which is why in this recent budget we more than doubled the funding for organizations to do this work.

As to sexual harassment, I appreciate your bringing that up. Bill C-65 has gone through several iterations, and it recognizes that sexual harassment, violence, and discrimination are not particular to any one group. We know all parties are affected by this. We know all communities and cultures are affected by it, and we are united in our efforts to address it.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you, Minister. Then I'm sure your members will abide by it once it is in effect.

Madam Minister, the federal government allocated $74 million to Quebec to manage the crisis caused by illegal entries at the border and provide necessary resources.

Do you know how much of that amount was specifically earmarked for women and girls?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

The focus in all our efforts is recognizing that, for example, in migration cases women are particularly vulnerable. It's ensuring that the supports they have are in line with their unique needs and realities and have been taken into account.

I also want to go back to the comment. When I talk about political violence, I'm not talking about sexual violence. There is a spectrum of violence that takes place. All I was saying is if we want to make this world better—

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you, Minister.

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

—we all lead by example.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Minister, can you please inform the committee as to the GBA+ process for the illegal border crossers? What GBA+ process is being implemented and enforced for those who are illegally crossing our borders?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

The GBA+ process that our government applies to all policies and proposals that we consider is about 22 years old. It was on the books for the previous government. If they had used it, they would not have cut health care to refugees, they would have let in more than three Yazidis women who were in high need—

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Do you mean legally, or illegally, like these border crossers are doing now?

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

—into this country. The work that we're doing to support irregular arrivals, as well as all immigrants, includes the application of that intersectional gendered lens. We also want to ensure that the organizations that support them have the funding and the capacity to do that work. Of course, we're also working with our provincial counterparts to ensure that our efforts are in alignment.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Minister, in a November 28, 2017 article regarding correcting your birthplace on your citizenship documents, you were quoted as saying, “Just like everybody else, I'm waiting my turn”. Based on this very quote, is it feasible to say that your very own family, your very own flesh and blood would have suffered additional hardship and delay as a result—

[An hon. member]

Madam Chair, please. This is very personal.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Madam Chair, a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

One moment, please. Do not interrupt. I'm standing my ground on this one.

Please make sure that it's relevant to the question and to the main estimates. Thank you.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Sorry, Madam Chair, this is a personal attack on another member of Parliament. If she's going to focus on what's in the estimates, that's fine.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Chair, I assure you it's all covered [Inaudible—Editor] in a CBC article.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

I know. And I've been called a supporter of a terrorist organization by someone over there too, but that doesn't mean we bring it up here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

We will suspend.

Thank you very much, Minister. We will change up our panels and begin again at 4:30.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

If everybody could please take their seats, we are going to begin once again.

To start, a motion was made that when I suspended I was not allowed to as the chair. To the Liberal caucus, I have control and I'm allowed to suspend when I feel it's necessary. Due to decorum I suspended, rather than calling out people on decorum.

I will take that ability to suspend when I need it, and please do not question the chair once again on why I suspended. Thank you.

We are now coming back for our last hour.

We have Nancy Gardiner—thank you for remaining with us—as well as Anik Lapointe, and Lisa Smylie.

Lisa, why don't you tell us what your role is.

[Lisa Smylie, Director, Research and Evaluation, Office of the Co-ordinator, Status of Women]

I'm Director of Research, Planning, Evaluation, and Audit.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Thank you very much.

We're now going to begin once again with a full round of questioning. We're going to start with our seven minutes and go around.

Sean Fraser, you have the first seven minutes.