Status of Women Committee on June 17th, 2022

[Jennifer Brazeau]

Since I don't work directly in the communities, I can't really speak to the impact of negotiated agreements.

However, at another time, I worked for Quebec Native Women, and I can tell you that this organization was created to give indigenous women a voice.

The scope of consultations could certainly be broadened so that they aren't limited to band councils. Other parties and community members who will be affected should also be contacted. It's also important to remember that the issue is even broader and that urban indigenous people are also affected by developments in the communities.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you.

I think my time is up, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

There we go. I'm sorry. It's like I have not used Zoom for the last while.

I'm going to now pass it over to Andréanne Larouche.

Andréanne, you have six minutes.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Like my colleagues, I too would like to thank the witnesses who are appearing today to speak to us on this issue.

Recent events remind us that behind the statistics and numbers that show some disproportionate effects on indigenous women, there are sad faces, experiences and stories. For all of these reasons, we need to address this issue and work together to find solutions.

My first question is for Senator Audette.

You talked about the money that was promised to implement the recommendations. I would like you to tell us more about that. These are huge sums of money that are currently being withheld. What are the repercussions of withholding these amounts? Money is promised, but it still has to be put to use if we want to succeed in implementing various projects. Could you explain further why it is important for the money to be put to use?

[Michèle Audette]

Thank you for that important question, Ms. Larouche.

As to how to invest and spend money, Canada has long followed criteria that were rigidly complex for organizations on the ground, particularly those that were small or far from major urban centres and that, therefore, did not have access to consultants and experts who could write projects based on federal culture. COVID‑19 broke all that. We were able to save lives, support people, be creative and be in action rather than in reaction.

This is a national crisis, a national tragedy. Indigenous women are disappearing or dying every week in Canada. However, we realize that the rules and ways of drafting projects remain as rigid as before. How do you tell women who are saving lives on the ground that they have to meet the criteria set by a particular federal government program?

When it comes to investing in infrastructure to build buildings and spaces, for example, or to renovate or build houses to protect women, it's understandable that not all the money is spent right away. However, I don't understand why it's difficult to receive funding for some amazing initiatives that save lives or help people. That's a question that should be answered by the government.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Can you give me an example of these great initiatives? During our study, a number of witnesses showed us how important it is to take into account the indigenous experience and culture, as well as the different realities of these women. They also have a different vision of healing and reconciliation.

[Michèle Audette]

I was in the Yukon a few weeks ago, where people presented to us the progress of their work around the national inquiry and their respective action plans, which were developed in collaboration with grassroots women's organizations, indigenous governments and the Yukon government.

We see a difference. We see that a series of initiatives by individuals working in the territory have allowed people to reconnect with their language and culture. I first went to the Yukon when I was with the Native Women's Association of Canada, I went back as commissioner, I went again several years later, and I saw a difference every time. I saw the light in the eyes of families and survivors. It was because of what followed the national inquiry that their healing process took place. That's what helped these people.

Why not support this kind of thing across Canada? Women have the experience and expertise. One of the calls for justice is to ensure that women are always at the centre of any initiatives that are proposed, whether it's by an indigenous, provincial or federal government.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

In other words, these women must be allowed to take charge of their lives and regain their power, by underscoring the importance of their culture. This makes them less likely to be exploited by companies that come to carry out different projects in the area.

[Michèle Audette]

We have to trust them, because they have the necessary expertise. If they don't have our trust, they won't hesitate to go elsewhere. For example, the Liard Aboriginal Women's Society gave you a nice brief. These women live next to mining projects.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you very much, Senator Audette.

You just talked about the importance of the land. Mrs. Brazeau, from the Regroupement des centres d’amitié autochtones du Québec, also stressed the importance of community involvement across the land, both in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada.

In fact, my fellow members of Parliament in the Abitibi‑Témiscamingue region are well aware of the number of employees who travel back and forth on resource development projects and the impact of this reality on indigenous women.

Mrs. Brazeau, you spoke briefly about what is happening in your friendship centres. How can these centres be part of the process and play an important role in preventing the exploitation of indigenous women?

[Jennifer Brazeau]

As Ms. Audette has explained, the healing process and the protective factors go hand in hand with cultural revitalization, when women are allowed to live their culture and reclaim their territory. You can't take the aboriginal woman out of her territory. It is extremely important to establish the connection, but also to consult women and hear what they have to say when new projects come up.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

I understand what you are saying: it is important to work in consultation with aboriginal women and to place them at the centre of the whole process.

I imagine that it is also important to re-establish their trust in certain authorities, so that they can denounce certain situations. I will come back to this in a later round of questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

That's awesome. Thank you so much.

We're going to pass it over to Leah Gazan.

Leah, you have six minutes.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Thank you so much, Chair.

My first question is for Madam Zinck from the Department of Natural Resources.

You spoke about how your department is trying to integrate indigenous perspectives in revamping your department, but here's the thing. In the last Parliament, this government put into law Bill C-15 to see the full implementation and adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, so we need to go beyond perspectives to actually getting free, prior and informed consent. I want to define that for you: “free” means free of coercion and intimidation; “prior” means prior to development; and “informed” means knowing what the development is about and all of the impacts of that development. It's only when you have those three things that you actually have consent.

I'm going to give you an example. In Wet'suwet'en territory, the RCMP came in and took down the door of two unarmed women on their unceded territory with an axe, a chainsaw and an attack dog. Do you think that kind of behaviour is consistent with FPIC, going back to free of coercion and intimidation, yes or no?

[Kimberley Zinck]

Thank you very much for the question.

Events like that definitely sadden me. Expectations are high and—

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

I'm sorry. I have very limited time and important questions. I would like a yes-or-no answer. Did that meet requirements in being free of intimidation and coercion? Give me a yes or no.

[Kimberley Zinck]

I'm sorry that the answer to that question is not a yes or no. What I can tell you is that recently, having heard from—

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

I'm going to move on. I'm sorry to interrupt.

[Kimberley Zinck]

Okay.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

I think it was a clear act of intimidation, so I would say, no, you did not meet the criteria for FPIC.

Moving on, I'd like to point my next question to Madam Moran.

One of the things you shared was that your department is working hard with police services to ensure the safety of indigenous women and girls. Does the RCMP fall under your department? Give me a yes or no.

[Christine Moran]

The RCMP is part of the Public Safety portfolio.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Perfect. Thank you.

You spoke specifically about TMX in one of your examples, and we're talking about ensuring the safety of indigenous women. I want to quote Chief Judy Wilson, who is the secretary-treasurer of the UBCIC. She said the following in regard to indigenous women on Secwepemc territory:

The Tiny House Warriors are a group of Indigenous women, families, and land defenders who are exercising their inherent right to live on their lands as their Ancestors have done since time immemorial. They are being targeted for upholding their sovereignty and opposing the construction of the TMX and associated work camps that are known for increasing the risks of violence, assault, and intimidation against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people.

She went on to condemn it. This was a press release about the UBCIC's calls for an end to surveillance and intimidation of Tiny House Warriors and indigenous land defenders. Do you think that kind of behaviour makes indigenous women feel safe on their unceded territories, yes or no?

[Christine Moran]

Madam Chair, what I can say is—

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Okay. I'll reframe my question. If you were being intimidated and surveilled at your home, would you feel safe? Give me a yes or no.

[Christine Moran]

Madam Chair, is that a question for Public Safety?