Status of Women Committee on Jan. 30th, 2024

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

The inclusion of paragraph (f) doesn't impose it either.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Sonia Sidhu]

There are no more speakers. Can I call the question?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We're on G-7.

In order to be coherent throughout this bill, members should keep in mind the decision made on amendment G-3 while considering amendment G-7, since they are related.

Lisa.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

G-7 is really a technical amendment. It makes this document more consistent. It replaces the word “informant” with “intimate partner” and/or “parties” in proposed subsections 810.03(2), (7), (9) and (13).

It's quite simple. I'm not sure if anybody needs more clarification from the analysts.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Sonia Sidhu]

Is there any intervention on G-7?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 2 as amended agreed to)

Michelle, you can go ahead.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I really want to thank everybody today. This has actually been more productive than I expected it would be. There is definitely a concern that Bill S-205 was put forward and doesn't put victims' rights in the driver's seat. I know we have to work together to ensure that it's not amended to the point that it compromises victims.

With that being said, I think there are a few more amendments that our team wants to spend some time on, dive deeper into and discuss, because we have until April to get this bill back to the House to ensure that it passes for Senator Boisvenu.

In the interim, we've just come back from time in our constituencies, time to go home, time to listen and time to meet with people on the ground. Because we're the status of women committee, and I know you all care, I want to move a motion—

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

On a point of order, I thought this was a question. I thought we were in the middle of this. I'd really like to get through this legislation.

As Leah said, we can get it done, get it through and get on to the red dress alert. I just want to make sure that we're all on the same page.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

We are for sure on the same page.

I just have the floor to move a motion that I think is really critical right now, Madam Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Sonia Sidhu]

I thought you had a question for the analyst. You said you had a question. That's why. It was a point of order.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

I do have a question, to move a motion.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

That's not the same thing.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Sonia Sidhu]

Anita.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Let her continue. I'm putting my hand up.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Thank you.

Before I got here, during my time in the riding.... Obviously, the affordability issue was the number one thing that came across in my emails, phone calls and messages, particularly from single moms. This morning, before I came here, I had a phone call from my office. I'm going to say her name is Jane, because she's fearful to speak out, which is another major problem.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

On a point of order, I don't know how this is relevant, Chair.

I really don't want to waste time. I think this committee can get a lot of really good work done, and I'd really like to stay on topic, please.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

This is on topic to the motion that I'm moving.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Sonia Sidhu]

She has the floor.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Thanks. I think this is critical.

She phoned me. She makes $62,500. She has two kids. She has a 12-year-old and an eight-year-old. She said, “Michelle, for the first time in my life, I have bill collectors calling me.” This is a genuine person—

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

I just want clarification that I'm on the list to speak on this afterwards.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Sonia Sidhu]

Yes. You are next.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

She phoned me. I think she's watching. She said she was going to try to watch this, because she said she really appreciates me. She said she can't speak up.

That's what I've heard repeatedly. People feel afraid to share their truths and experience. There's a lot of shame about not being able to pay your bills. It ties in with our talk about domestic violence and this epidemic—particularly for single moms—because it increases the divorce rate. People are so stressed. It puts stress on marriages. Then you have more single parents.

What we are asking for today in the status of women committee is to move a motion and ask for support in studying this topic, because I think we could do some incredible work around this. It's just a matter of searching any media site every single day. I have a whole list of people here. “Single mom carpenter earning $54,000 near Hamilton looks to pay off her credit card debt”. “The rising cost of living means this mom of three goes hungry so her kids can eat”. These are all women disproportionately impacted by the cost of living crisis and inflation. “This Canadian housing market just had its worst year since 2000”. This one says, “Trudeau cranks up spending but Canadians are worse off”. “Higher interest rates are punishing low-income Canadians, data shows”.

The sad part is that this woman I spoke to, Jane, is not even a low-income person. I think that's what's very sad. The small business owners and entrepreneur women.... In particular, day care operators are having to claim insolvency and bankruptcy, because they can't operate their business. This is disproportionately impacting women, and we are the status of women committee.

I will read my motion into the record and hope I can get full support to pass it:

Due to the escalating cost of living, especially in housing, food prices, home heating, and gas, the committee undertake a study to investigate the financial challenges faced by single-income parents, including single mothers, with a view of making recommendations to the government that will make life more affordable for them, the study take up no less than 6 meetings and invite the Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development, the Minister of Women and Gender Equality, and the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, to appear for one hour each, and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.

I can't stress this enough: For all of these issues we are discussing, the undercurrent is affordability. When you can't afford to eat and you're a single mom, a woman, trying to care for your children.... So many of the issues we cover in this committee—domestic violence, human trafficking, mental health and period poverty—come down to the cost of living. If you can't afford to pay your bills and you're starting to lean on credit, it has catastrophic impacts on our country and our women. Our women are the backbone of everything. We know that. They run the house. They run the household budgets. When I was talking to Jane on the phone before I got here, she said, “Michelle, I make $62,000 and I can't feed my kids.” It's actually wild. She said—pardon my French—“I work my ass off. I can do this.”

I would ask for a vote to pass this motion. I believe my colleagues all know the importance of affordability and the impact of inflation. We'll get the ministers in here and come up with some incredible solutions to help make life more affordable for everyone—in particular, because this is the status of women committee, for women and single mothers.

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Sonia Sidhu]

Anita, you are the next speaker.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

As is the common practice in this committee, I would like to move to adjourn debate and refer the matter to the subcommittee on agenda and procedure.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Sonia Sidhu]

It is a dilatory motion and non-debatable. Now we need to proceed and vote on it.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 5; nays 4)

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

I have the same point of order as before. I'm just noting the voting of Mrs. Vecchio for the record.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

On that point of order, I want to ask the clerk, through you, Madam Chair.

I thought our former chair was not voting. By calling her name out and by her abstaining, it is voting. I don't understand why she has to be acknowledged.

I want to clarify that point. I don't know all the rules. Why does she have to be acknowledged, and then abstain? This is just to clarify. That's all.