Status of Women Committee on Nov. 14th, 2022

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Minister, what happened during the pandemic happened because you tried to impose conditions. It's not me who's saying that the transfer of funds to Quebec was delayed; it's my counterparts in Quebec and the former minister responsible for the status of women. I'm certain that the new minister will also take on this file.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

You have five seconds to respond. Do you have any response?

[Marci Ien, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

I would just say that I look forward to the negotiations, and, as always, we remain at the table.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Excellent.

We're now going to turn it over for six minutes to Lisa Marie Barron.

Lisa Marie, you have the floor.

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you to the minister. I'm happy to be here today for this important work. I want to first convey regrets from my colleague, MP Leah Gazan, who is unfortunately unable to be here today but will go back to watch this entire meeting closely, I'm sure.

My first question today is about November 20, the Transgender Day of Remembrance. I feel it's important for us to talk about this when we are looking at the mental health of young women and girls. We know that transgender youth face much higher risks and rates of mental illness than youth in general. The Ontario chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association, for example, noted that 2SLGBTQIA+ youth have 14 times the risk of suicide and substance misuse than their heterosexual counterparts, with transgender youth accounting for 77% of those seriously considering suicide.

Those numbers are really appalling and concerning. I wanted to bring them forward, because I know that recently, Minister, there was a 2SLGBTQIA+ action plan that was put forward, which can be applauded, of course, for the work that's happening in the right direction. But we also know we're hearing from the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity, Wisdom2Action executive director Fae Johnstone and the Enchanté Network, who are talking about some critical gaps, flaws, and a lack of funding integrated within the plan specific to the unique challenges experienced by transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people. There are also some gaps being highlighted around the need for disaggregated data to better understand the unique experiences of transgender youth.

I'm wondering, Minister, if you could please tell us how you and your government plan to address the critical gaps in demands identified by 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals that end up leaving queer and trans people behind, and why this hasn't been developed long ago.

Thank you.

[Marci Ien, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Lisa Marie, thank you so much for the question.

That is precisely what the 2SLGBTQIA+ action plan is about. It was built by community and grassroots organizations and was $100 million. I'm so happy to hear you talk about disaggregated data, because it is something I preach 24 hours a day.

Seventy-five million dollars of that plan went to organizations on the ground—Enchanté and others included—and $25 million is where the disaggregated data and support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ secretariat come in. We know we need the data.

Thank you also for acknowledging Trans Awareness Week, which starts today and, of course, the day is on the 20th, as you said. I proudly represent Toronto Centre. As the member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, I serve those in Church-Wellesley, the historic gay village, and this plan and serving them well means a lot to me personally.

Here's what I'll tell you. On Saturday, I was at The 519. On behalf of Minister Lametti, Parliamentary Secretary Anandasangaree and I stood beside a young man who fled his homeland of Jamaica. He is a refugee here, and he is now one of the executives at The 519. We were there to announce just under a million dollars. This million dollars will go towards helping trans people with regard to justice issues, and his speech outlined very well how important it was to have trauma-informed counsellors and advisers on hand. He outlined very well how the trans community, as you mentioned, has to deal with violence, police brutality and mental health issues at a far greater rate than, frankly, anybody else. This just under a million dollars that we announced is going to help with that. It's going to provide support with regard to justice, help and wraparound support.

I hear all too often, after members of the trans community are hurt in any way, that they're afraid to walk into hospitals because they don't know what kind of treatment they might get there. These issues are systemic and we cannot fix systems overnight, but we can hit that and hit that, and work away every single day to make things better.

I so appreciate your question.

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

I only have 15 seconds, so I'm just going to highlight how much I appreciate the attention that you're paying to the needs of transgender youth and young people. I really look forward to working together to identify the gaps in the hope that we can start making their lives better.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Thank you.

We're now going to pass over to our second round, and we will start off with Anna Roberts.

Anna, you have five minutes.

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister Ien, for participating today.

I have a two-part question. The first part is, being new to the committee, could you explain the youth council to me? When did they last meet and what is their progress?

[Marci Ien, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Are you talking about the Prime Minister's youth council or my personal youth council in Toronto Centre?

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Both.

[Marci Ien, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

My personal youth council in Toronto Centre meets monthly. We have a meeting coming up. We like to focus on specific goals, so right now we're focusing on food security. We are focused as well on identifying those who might help in our community with regard to that.

For example, I have a university in my riding that grows food on its rooftops, so my youth council will be getting in touch with said university to find out how food that isn't sold or is left over can be used to help our communities. My Toronto Centre youth council focuses on community issues, and food security is the one that we've chosen, Anna. That's what we'll be working on in the coming months.

With regard to the Prime Minister's youth council, we last met this past August, and I am in touch via text and social media with many of the members all the time.

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

My second question is in conjunction with my first question.

I'm an individual who had personal experience with youth violence many, many years ago.

There's no discussion about housing. We have young women and youth who are in an atmosphere that is detrimental to their health and well-being. How is the government working with the provinces to ensure that the social network and the social services of the provinces work together to ensure that violence against youth and women is not escalated? I can tell you from personal experience that I haven't seen a huge improvement.

[Marci Ien, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Thank you for your question.

I so appreciate this opportunity to speak about that.

When it comes to youth mental health, it's important that those who take care of young people—parents, guardians, caregivers of any sort—are well supported.

Here's what I know as a mom of two. If I'm stressed in any way, if my mental health is challenged in any way—and it has been challenged—my kids feel it.

First, it supports those who support our young people, and that's exactly what we're doing. When it comes to housing, providing rent support for the lowest-income earners means something. It makes a difference.

I was born in St. James Town, which is part of the riding I serve. It is all apartment buildings. It is mostly immigrant families trying to do the best they can, most of whom, by the way, work on the front lines. Help with rent goes a long way. Help with dental care so that kids 12 and under can go to the dentist helps. It helps—

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

I'm sorry to interrupt. My time is limited, and I want to get this question in.

Here is the situation. If we don't understand the cultures where these youth and young women come from, and we send in children's aid to provide them homes through foster care or whatever situation.... If that situation is not dealt with quickly, in a timely manner, then the abuse will continue.

The reason I ask that question is this: How do we train the individuals who are supposed to support our young and youth to ensure there is no repeat violence?

[Marci Ien, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

I'm not sure I understand when you say—

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Minister, I'm going to give you about 20 seconds to respond because we're a little over time. You have about 20 seconds.

[Marci Ien, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

I appreciate that, Madam Chair.

I just want to understand what “cultures they come from” means. What does that mean?

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

There are certain cultures that have certain beliefs. If we interact with those cultures while not understanding the cultures, we put the youth and the young women at risk.

[Marci Ien, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Certain cultures that have certain beliefs...like what, Anna?

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

For example, there are certain cultures where women and youth do not have a say in the family home.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

First of all, I love this line of questioning and where it's going, but it's taking away from every other person, so we can't expand this anymore.

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

That's no problem.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

I'm sorry about that.

I'm going to take this time and turn it over to you, Jenna, for your five minutes.

Perhaps, Anna and Marci, you could talk about that.

[Marci Ien, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

I'd be happy to.