Evidence of meeting #53 for Status of Women in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was budget.
A video is available from Parliament.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
With regard to the work of these organizations, over 300 were supported by Status of Women last year. The money that you see there will be going mainly to the centre of excellence and the data aspect, something that I know you heard about from stakeholders across the country.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Okay. I'll move on to the next question, because my time is becoming very low.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
That evidence-based approach will serve these organizations really well.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Thank you.
I will move on to the next question, because I only have a little time. This will be a little bit more specific.
The Prime Minister has said multiple times, in response to questions about President Trump's immigration policy, that he wouldn't want to interfere with the independent, sovereign goings-on of another country. He wouldn't want to dictate policy to another independent country.
A week and a half ago, though, as I was leaving a caucus meeting, I was scrummed on the $650 million that's going out to remove judicial and legal barriers in other countries. Some of these barriers are very concerning to Canadians.
When it comes to the fact that in one way he's saying we will not, that we'll allow sovereign countries.... I want to know what your feelings are on this when the Prime Minister says one thing but is actually doing the exact opposite with some of these funds.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
I'm sorry. That's your time.
We'll move now to Ms. Malcolmson for seven minutes.
9:25 a.m.
NDP
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Minister for being here. I know your heart is in this work. I appreciate the budget naming the problems of gender equality, but I am so sorry that the concomitant action isn't there. We don't see funding for pay equity legislation and implementation. We had the grassroots alternative budget requesting that investment be made in a national action plan to end violence against women and that this investment be proportionate to the cost and consequence of gender-based violence.
Its recommendation was that there be $500 million a year and that there be uniform access to domestic violence support and prevention, courts, sexual assault crisis centres, and all of that, and instead we ended up with only $100 million over five years. We know that the cost of domestic violence is $12 billion. I know we're going to get a chance to talk about this more, but I just need to say I wish there were more oomph. We've been hearing a lot, in the context of the study this committee is doing on economic justice for women, about the benefits of a good child care system.
We heard this every day last week at the United Nations, where I was very glad to be part of your delegation. Every expert here has been saying that if we invest in getting a strong child care system, then more women who want to work will be able to. On Tuesday, Professor Pierre Fortin said that Quebec's child care model generated $900 million in revenue just by virtue of mothers getting to work. But in this budget, there's not a penny of funding for child care for this coming budget year. The budget increases funding by only $5 million between 2019 and 2020, and then there's no increase in 2021 and 2022.
We had the child care advocacy association of B.C. say that they thought a budget commitment of $7 billion over 10 years is far below what's required to develop a system. The CCPA budget called for 1% of GDP. This is apparently an international measure. They called for $600 million this year and then $1 billion more every year in the future until that 1% threshold is met.
Can you talk with me about why the budget isn't on track to meet the 1% of GDP being spent on child care, which is the new standard for developed countries?
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
I want to thank my colleague for joining us in New York and for all the ways in which she's worked to advance gender equality in Canada under different governments and different value systems.
On pay equity, as you know, there was a committee of the House that did really great work around pay equity, and the government is on board. I know that some members of that committee are around this table. My colleague Minister Hajdu and I are committed to making sure that the legislation we introduce in 2018 is thoughtful. We know that it's a complex issue that's going to have various consequences, much of which is going to be positive, but we need to make sure we get it right. That's what we're committed to. I know that the work we do will be transformative.
As far as the violence against women focus is concerned, with the gender-based violence strategy, we know that there are provinces and territories out there—you were there for the presentation at the UN with our colleague from the Yukon—that are leading the way. They've had to step in and take the lead. They're doing really good work. Part of the strategy that we will be working on together will allow us to work with them, to learn from them, and to share those best practices around the country.
We know that what we heard across the country over and over again, and what you've heard, is that the federal government plays a really important role in coordinating its own services across departments. Right now, as we've walked through, there's a silo effect happening, where different departments are working towards the same noble goal but those efforts aren't always coordinated. We're going to be getting our own house in order. I think that's really important.
We also know, as we heard over and over again from stakeholders, that governments can play a critical role in data collection and gathering the evidence that is so badly missing right now. This evidence, this focus on research in this centre of excellence and sharing best practices across the country—a one-stop shop, if you will—will be laying the foundation for the work we have to do to get to that place where no woman or girl or anyone of a different gender has to struggle with gender-based violence.
There's a lot of work to do, but I know that $100 million isn't the only way that we're going to address and prevent gender-based violence. The investment you saw, the $11 billion in housing, is going to be fundamental. For example, we know that one of the reasons why women don't leave abusive relationships is the fear of losing that safe roof over their heads. On the child care focus, I know that it's not everything, but $7 billion over 10 years is significant, and it's going to make a positive impact—
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
With respect, though, Minister, it doesn't start for two years. We don't want to see this as part of the re-election platform. We want to see the result right now.
I'm going to take you to another question about shelters.
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
The five shelters over five years on first nations reserves have been loudly identified as inadequate, and we didn't see any new funding for reserve shelters or new operations funding for shelter operations. I know that the operations issue is a very pressing one for these front-line services and for the women and men around the country who are providing shelter. Can you tell me about your commitment to increase funding for domestic violence shelters?
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
There was $90 million invested in shelters across the country in the 2016 budget and this builds—
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
That's correct. No budget is a one-time hit on its own, if you will. Each budget builds on the next. Budget 2017 is about building on the work of the previous budget.
9:30 a.m.
NDP
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
The focus on the indigenous peoples of this land, the relationship, is paramount to our government. It's a relationship that was broken and that we're working to rebuild. We've seen unprecedented investments in various infrastructure needs across indigenous communities. There's been a 27% increase. I know that during the election the 2% cap was a topic of great contention and disappointment. We've addressed that by enhancing that to 27%.
I want to say this, Sheila. I think we have a lot of work to do, but I know we're on the right track and I know it's because of people like you, who are restless, just as I am, who push us to do more, and we're going to be able to do more—
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
I'm sorry we're out of time. We have to move on now.
We will start with Ms. Ludwig.
March 23rd, 2017 / 9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Karen Ludwig Liberal New Brunswick Southwest, NB
Good morning. Thank you for being here.
First of all, I would like to compliment you on your outfit.
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
Well, you know, I enjoyed our phone conversation earlier this morning where we coordinated this.
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Karen Ludwig Liberal New Brunswick Southwest, NB
I'm very pleased with the work of this committee. I'm also very proud of the government in terms of what has taken place with feminizing the budget and the outcomes from it. I have a couple of questions.
Last week I was very honoured and fortunate to attend the UN convention on the status of women. One of the sessions that I attended was on violence against women in politics. The outcomes and the research from that are very concerning, but it's something we all need to be conscious of.
I have two questions regarding that. How closely does your department collaborate with the other departments, such as International Trade, Small Business and Tourism, Immigration, Defence, and Veterans Affairs, specifically looking at the crosscutting approaches to policies and legislation that were identified as a priority at the conference last week?
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
Thank you for being part that delegation. I know that those of us who were there as part of the Inter-Parliamentary Union's presentation regarding the violence that women in politics experience around the world were moved by the discussion. There were six ministers from Canada around that table, and regardless of the regions we hail from, this is an issue that we know in Canada we can do more to address.
We know that if we want to encourage the next generation of leaders to come to this place and to stay and keep serving their communities, we need to do more to enhance the way we conduct ourselves in this place in terms of the overall aggression levels that we understand to take place.
The work that Status of Women does is a horizontal approach. One of the ways we make sure we're involved in every department's policies, programs, and legislation is by making sure that a GBA+ is conducted on every item that comes across the cabinet table. This means that our phones are ringing off the hooks in a way that I understand has not happened in over 20 years, with different departments understanding how critical the GBA+ analysis is to having their proposals received at the cabinet table. They want to make sure they get it right. I know we'll be coming to you with an interim report with how we're doing there.
We work across departments because there's an understanding with the Prime Minister, with cabinet, with all our caucus colleagues, frankly, and I think with members from different sides of the aisle, that everything we do has a gendered impact. That's what the gender statement in the budget is about, that different policies affect women and girls and people of different genders differently.
That's one way.
The gender-based violence strategy is a collaborative effort between over half a dozen ministers and departments. That's the only way it's going to work. Women's lives are dynamic. The different services, programs, and supports that they need have to be just that.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Karen Ludwig Liberal New Brunswick Southwest, NB
Thank you.
Continuing on with that, Minister, is there a role or a vision in terms of education and awareness for the general public on why it's important and the benefits of having women in positions of leadership? We've heard from witnesses before this committee who have talked about how companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange that have women in senior leadership positions tend to have greater annual revenues than those that do not, and that it's not just about putting women in place just because. There's a real economic benefit to it.
How could you help us or how could we help you, and help all of us as Canadians, to get that message out so that people see the true benefits of putting women in and offering opportunities for leadership?
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
Thank you for that.
Bill C-25 is a bill that's gone through part of its movement through the House, and it's with committee right now. Part of it is addressing just that: ensuring that we do better than having one out of five seats filled by women around corporate board tables. We know that when there are more women around those tables, we make better decisions. I'll be working with Minister Bains on that. I know that colleagues in the House and committee will make sure that it's the best bill it can be.
We hosted Canada's Daughters of the Vote here on International Women's Day. Those 338 young women and their passion and their knowledge and their talent and the respectful ways they conducted their debates and dialogue—all these are reminders of why we need more diversity in this place.
We've been working on various initiatives, and there will be a lot of work ahead of us. One thing that I believe in, and I know members around this table believe, is that those of us who are here, women or men, have a responsibility to the next generation of leaders who are watching us, who are paying attention not just to what we're doing and how we're spending but also to how we conduct ourselves here. We have a responsibility for the way we behave, the words that we use. We have a responsibility as leaders to lead by example and to make sure that we are positive contributors to the culture shift that needs to happen.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Karen Ludwig Liberal New Brunswick Southwest, NB
How would you relate those examples to a vision of modernizing Parliament?
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Maryam Monsef Liberal Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
When the Fathers of Confederation did the work necessary to bring us to this point, I'm not sure they were imagining 338 young women in Parliament. But Canada has changed, politics have changed, and we need to evolve if democracy is going to be relevant. We've seen many occasions that are demonstrative of why we need to change, why something has to give.
I'm thankful that we have an opportunity before us in the House, as leaders who lead by example, to have a thoughtful, respectful conversation about how we can make sure that this evolution takes place, so that this is a healthier workplace not only for us but also for the next generation of leaders who walk into these halls.