Status of Women Committee on Nov. 24th, 2020

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I will take this opportunity to thank you, Minister, for appearing before the committee and for all the work you are doing to support women and girls across Canada. I really appreciate it.

One important topic which we all hear about—one of my colleagues, Ms. Mathyssen, also started on it—is child care. We have heard from many witnesses that child care is an essential part of getting women back into the economy, not just getting back to normal, but building back even better and stronger than before.

Child care is a topic of interest within the media, for policy experts and, of course, for my constituents and for moms and dads who know that child care is essential to growing our economy and giving our children the best start in life.

Minister, can you please speak to why a child care strategy is important to a she-recovery, and how it will contribute towards gender equality?

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

Thank you, MP Zahid, for your very important work as chair of immigration and citizenship.

One of your witnesses, Armine Yalnizyan, said that there will be no she-covery without early learning and child care. She is absolutely right.

The Prime Minister very clearly referred to it in the Speech from the Throne and ensured that it was recognized as one of the key ways of moving women and our economy forward. The alternative is to roll back the clock decades and decades.

Early learning and child care are one of the 167 recommendations that came from the Royal Commission on the Status of Women's report. This piece around paid and unpaid work, and the care work traditionally done by women which is just expected to be done for free has held our economy together. I think what COVID has allowed us to see is just how much care is core to who we are and to our economy.

Minister Hussen is working diligently to develop the framework that we hope will have buy-in from our colleagues in provinces and territories.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Ms. Sidhu.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you for coming back to our committee, Minister. I am happy to recognize your work for women from diverse communities across Canada, including organizations in Peel, which you met with I think two weeks ago.

December 7, 2020, marks the 50th anniversary of the tabling in Parliament of the report of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women. It is incredible to look back at this report to see the differences made in the past 50 years for women. We know there is still more work to do.

Minister, can you speak to the progress that has been made over the past 50 years and what our government is doing to commemorate this anniversary?

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

Thank you so much, MP Sidhu, for your work as vice-chair of FEWO. It's very important for us and for those diverse communities such as those in your community. I was happy to connect with folks like those at Pink Attitude. Their voices were echoed by many we've heard in Black, indigenous and racialized communities across the country during COVID.

We have seen progress over the past 50 years. When the police are called to a case of domestic violence now, they respond. Fifty-plus years ago, they would see it as a matter between a man and his wife and let it be. Women can now apply for a mortgage and be qualified to do so without needing their husband's signature on the application form. There's a department within the Government of Canada responsible for women and gender equality. This didn't exist 50-plus years ago. That is all a testament to the tireless advocacy, the pain and the suffering, frankly, of those who've come before us who pushed for these changes and who found creative ways to make them happen.

As you mentioned, that progress is not carved in stone. On December 7 we will do what we can to celebrate the milestones achieved over the past 50 years, and look ahead to the very difficult road to a full recovery from COVID. I encourage colleagues to convene if they can, virtually or by telephone. They can shine a light on the work women and leaders in their own communities have done, because the best way we can move forward from here on is to stay connected with grassroots movements across the country and let them know that the Government of Canada has their back.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

That is very good.

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

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

I'm sorry, you have two and a half minutes.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Oh, I was happy.

Ms. Monsef, you mentioned that you were currently meeting with indigenous leaders for your action plan. I'd like to know how the national action plan you are introducing will address the calls for justice that came out of the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and also the calls for action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

How will your meeting with indigenous leaders fit into your national plan?

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

Thank you, Ms. Larouche.

It's critical that the two work hand in hand. Minister Bennett has been leading our government's efforts. Over the past several months, she has brought together, per province and per territory, survivors, their families, experts and leaders to ensure that their responses are taken into account in the development of the action plan.

We are, first and foremost, ensuring that we commemorate and remember the stories of those missing and those who are gone. There are about 100 projects across the country commemorating our stolen sisters.

Second, we've heard “nothing for us without us” from indigenous leaders and representatives, so they are at the table. They're at the table on the gender-based violence advisory council, which advises me. They are at the table when we gather for federal, provincial and territorial annual meetings. Also, of course, much of what they share around prevention, support for survivors and a responsive justice system is taken into consideration, both with the calls for justice and the national action plan. You've also seen, in our COVID response, additional supports for shelters on reserve and off reserve, as one example.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Perfect.

You talked about working with Minister Bennett. Recently in Quebec, we saw the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity working with the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women to review certain labour laws.

How could you work with your colleague the Minister of Labour to review things like the whole issue of employment insurance, and also capitalize on the economic recovery, which will need to be pro-women, to ensure that the Employment Insurance Act makes more women eligible for EI?

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

On the gender-based violence file, my colleague in Quebec and I have a very close working relationship. We're in regular conversation. I know that Minister Qualtrough has an equally close relationship with her counterparts in Quebec.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Thank you.

Now we go to Ms. Mathyssen for two and a half minutes.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

One thing I have mentioned before is that CERB left many people falling through the cracks. You have talked about looking forward and moving forward with additional programs and ensuring that a gender lens would be applied. However, we're pushing for the CERB to be universal. Ultimately that would ensure no one would fall through the cracks. It would ensure that no matter your gender or position, it certainly would cover it. I was upset that unfortunately the government didn't move in that way.

I would also like to ask you, though, about ensuring that systems and programs that are put into place are in fact universal. I think about child care being universal and affordable.

Would your government be willing to put forward a child care act that is much like the Canada Health Act, by way of ensuring that no matter where you are, you have access to it and that it's affordable and universal?

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

MP Mathyssen, in his Speech from the Throne the Prime Minister referred to a universal early learning and child care system that is affordable, accessible and of high quality, so that no matter where children and parents are they have access to similar supports. Minister Hussen is best fit to answer that question.

On your point about CERB, I will say that millions of Canadians have received it. Women have disproportionately benefited from it. For others who need additional support, thousands of organizations across the country in the charitable and non-profit sector have received direct support so that they can continue to provide supports to the most vulnerable in their communities.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you.

I also have to mention that I realize I said “millions” in my last question, and I meant billions. Hopefully the blues will correct that for me.

In addition, we've also talked a lot about the need for core funding. We know that the project-based funding model doesn't work; it has let women's organizations down. We've seen that absolutely in terms of COVID.

I'm wondering whether your government will commit to converting the capacity-building funds grants to permanent core funding. Will you deliver and commit to that in the upcoming budget?

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

I'm sorry, but that's your time.

We will go now to Ms. Sahota for five minutes.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

I just need “yes”.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, when I asked you about the information that was requested by the PBO, you deflected and made comments about how Erin O'Toole's platform doesn't address gender. You did that while commenting towards me, a woman of colour coming from a minority background.

We know that the Liberals say many words, do a lot of writing and not much action. The reverse is true on this side, and I'm the example.

I'm going to ask you again. Will you commit to releasing the information that the PBO is requesting so that we can get a fulsome report?

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

There are two parts to your question, MP Sahota.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

The first was a comment.

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

Yes.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

The question is, will you release—

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Madam Chair, on a point of order, can the witness answer the question? It has been asked a few times now.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

I'm clarifying the question, Madam Chair.