Status of Women Committee on Dec. 3rd, 2018

[Josie Nepinak]

I could answer that first.

I think we have to understand that there is a war on indigenous women in Canada, not to mention the thousands of missing and murdered indigenous women. In order to address the shortfall, we need to start talking about a long-term comprehensive strategy, with funding. That strategy must be led by indigenous women in this country, particularly indigenous women who are experts in the area of family violence and can understand policy or how that works...and to address those gaps in funding.

The other thing is that we often talk about rural and remote first nations, rural vs. city. I think there has to be consideration to remove jurisdictional boundaries for equitable funding for all indigenous shelters and lodges in the country. Quite often, when women are going into the first nation shelter.... I talked to my colleagues here in and around Calgary. The funding is so different for the first nation shelters on the reserve, where shelter directors actually have had to bring groceries from their own cupboards to feed the women and children in the shelter, which is terrible.

[Sheila Malcolmson, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

It is terrible.

Thank you for saying it so clearly.

[Josie Nepinak]

Thank you.

[Sheila Malcolmson, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Viviane, do you have anything to add?

[Viviane Michel]

Clearly, we talk about the importance of second-stage or transitional housing. Once women have completed their stay in the shelter, they still require follow-up support. Obviously, if they go to an urban area, they need second-stage housing, to help them build their financial independence and the capacity to function on their own.

Whenever any consultation is required, we insist that first nations representatives be included, both in terms of first nations women and those who work with them. When it comes to developing a strategic plan to address violence, the approach must be inclusive, consultation-based and collaborative.

Violence is such a multi-faceted issue. Québec Native Women launched an action plan to counter sexual violence in March, and mobilizing communities is an ongoing effort. The action plan is available on our website. Through the plan, we are taking an active role to address cases of sexual assault.

What is becoming more and more apparent at the shelter level is the lack of funding for women wishing to leave their violent situations. Who is going to cover those costs?

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Thank you so much, Viviane.

I'm glad you could read all my directions.

[Viviane Michel]

It was a great job.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

We're now going to turn the floor over to Emmanuella Lambropoulos for seven minutes.

You have the floor, Emmanuella.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

I'd like to begin by thanking both of the witnesses for being with us today.

My first question is for Mrs. Michel.

I know your organization does more than oversee women's shelters. How do you work with other shelters for indigenous women? What do you do exactly? How do you bring all of those players together?

[Viviane Michel]

Québec Native Women has a network of 13 indigenous shelters. What we do depends on what the shelters ask us for. If they need more training on youth protection, for instance, we put together two-day training sessions. We also help victims of violence access legal services.

We give the shelters tools and resources—the training they need to operate with greater independence—and we provide what they need. Our organization doesn't make the decisions for the shelters. They give us their recommendations and proposals, and we give them the necessary training.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

Thank you.

I imagine you're quite familiar with shelters' needs.

My colleague asked you whether indigenous women had access to any culturally appropriate spaces. You said you served women in their mother tongue. Do the women who seek out your services speak a language other than English or French? Do they speak their specific indigenous language? Conversely, do they not have close ties to their culture?

[Viviane Michel]

What makes urban shelters unique is that they serve a diverse clientele, including women from a number of different indigenous communities. For instance, Montreal is home to an Inuit population. Members of the Anishinabek and Mohawk communities are also present in different areas.

The workers don't speak all of those languages, so English or French tends to be the language used in urban shelters. Workers in other shelters speak the language of the community they are in.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

Very good.

One of your recommendations was expanding the range of services available to indigenous women to better meet their needs. How would those services differ from those provided to non-indigenous women?

[Viviane Michel]

For instance, awareness and prevention campaigns may be lacking. It's possible to have just four workers to cover three shifts. How can they possibly work on prevention or education? There aren't enough staff members.

It's easier at the community level, since everyone knows about the shelter's existence. In urban areas, though, how are people supposed to know they have access to a shelter? The two realities are quite different.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

How much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

You have three minutes.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

I have a question, but maybe I'm ignorant about the subject. I'd be glad if you could help me out here.

As Pam mentioned, a lot of the witnesses we saw in the previous study that we did, on the incarceration of indigenous women, spoke about the fact that a lot of these women didn't have much of their cultural background. They didn't really feel a connection to their culture because of the residential school system that their parents or some of them had been through.

Would you say that the situation is different in Quebec? Do they have a stronger link to their culture than they do in the rest of Canada? Or is it similar in Quebec as well?

[Viviane Michel]

I would say that, in Quebec, the issue of not being connected to one's culture is minor. Our 13 shelters take in individuals who belong to the community, speak the language of the community and have cultural ties. In urban areas, it is possible to encounter clients who don't feel connected to their culture, but it's a minor issue. Usually, women come from their own nation, with a connection to their culture and language.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

I see. Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

To start our second round, we're now going to move it over to Ron Liepert.

You have five minutes.

[Ron Liepert, Calgary Signal Hill, CPC]

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll share my time with my colleague.

I guess either one of you could answer this question, but since I represent a Calgary riding, maybe Ms. Nepinak could start.

Do you have any data that would give some baseline as to the number of repeat clients—I can't think of a better word—you have to deal with, those who come back a second or a third time? Is there any data on that? If not, maybe just give me an idea. Does it happen often or almost never, that sort of thing?

[Josie Nepinak]

Certainly, the Province of Alberta would have that data, through our funders, through homeless supports. Internally, at our lodge, we see approximately up to 15% of women return to the shelter.

Now, we have to remember that there are different circumstances that happen in these situations. It might be a new relationship. It might be that the first time they left they were not ready, so they chose to go back. Family violence is a cycle. It will escalate. People will leave.

Yes, we do see some women come back.

[Ron Liepert]

Even though the number is not that high, would you say that one reason for that might be not having the proper supports system in place when they do return, especially if they go back to the existing circumstances?

[Josie Nepinak]

Oh, absolutely, it has a lot to do with that. I just gave the example that if a woman is returning to a northern community—let's say, Saddle Lake—it's difficult for us to provide transitional and support services or outreach to her when she returns home. We don't have mechanisms in place to connect with her home community to develop safety planning and supports within that community. We just don't have the resources to do that.

[Ron Liepert]

Okay. I'll turn it over to Ms. Harder.