Evidence of meeting #108 for Status of Women in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was control.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Thank you very much.
I have less than 25 seconds of speaking time left, so I'm hoping someone can answer my question in 10 or 15 seconds: How can we address this issue? Some people, including Ms. Gill, have talked about Bill C‑332. What could be complementary to our study and this bill?
Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Salvation Army
There are the legal changes in the Criminal Code, but family law is not to be forgotten. It completes the circle, and, really, with the issues that we're seeing and the concerns that have been raised at the committee of this coercion being used against victims, closing the loop with family law is really what's critical to ensure those protections and to address the concerns of children that they won't be further victimized.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Shelby Kramp-Neuman
We were a little bit lenient there. We'll probably take that into consideration and not go with the full third round.
Leah, you have two and a half minutes to finish this round.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Thank you so much.
My last questions are for Madame Pigeau.
I have a bill that I put forward in the House. I began the first hour of debate on it at second reading yesterday. It's for a guaranteed livable basic income in response to call for justice 4.5 of the national inquiry.
Why is a guaranteed livable basic income so critical? Even in cases today, we're talking about coercive control, but I'm speaking in terms of assisting individuals trying to flee gender-based violence.
Director of Intergovernmental Relations, Women of the Métis Nation
Part of that coercive control and behaviour is financial control that's held over our women and gender-diverse folks. A guaranteed livable income would help to put women and gender-diverse persons on a good foot in starting out a life independent and free from violence.
We have to look at, in addition to the guaranteed livable income, those health supports that are required to make sure that they're in place, because all of those can be barriers.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I'm sorry, but I'll stop you there because I want to get to this point.
Would you recommend that a guaranteed livable basic income be put in place to support women fleeing abuse, including economic abuse and any other kinds of abuse, yes or no?
Could you respond, Ms. Pigeau? Ms. Pigeau, yes or no? Would you recommend that?
Director of Intergovernmental Relations, Women of the Métis Nation
I apologize; my connection was unstable. I believe that, when I left, you asked me for my recommendation. It was yes.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
As a critical piece for women fleeing violence, including economic abuse, coercive control and domestic abuse, would you recommend—
Director of Intergovernmental Relations, Women of the Métis Nation
It's crucial.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Okay, thank you.
You can finish your last statement. I'm so sorry about that. I just wanted to get that on record.
Director of Intergovernmental Relations, Women of the Métis Nation
On the guaranteed livable income, we look especially at Métis women having lower educational attainment and less of an ability to be able to earn a livable income while they're caring for their children. That includes multi-generational caregivers.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Shelby Kramp-Neuman
Thank you very much.
That will conclude our panel for today. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank our witnesses for your sensitive testimony.
We will suspend for about five minutes to transition into in camera, the portion of the meeting to consider the draft report on women's economic empowerment.
[Proceedings continue in camera]