Status of Women Committee on Nov. 3rd, 2025

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

I think you still have a minute and a half, if you want.

[Jessica Fancy-Landry, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

That's wonderful.

I have just one more quick question.

I was wondering if you could provide us with a few examples of how applying an intersectional lens has strengthened federal support for women and gender-diverse people across the country, particularly in ensuring that no one is left behind because of who they are and how they live.

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

As I mentioned already, it is the 30th anniversary since the GBA+ became integrated into the Government of Canada. This is our commitment to ensuring that we're applying the GBA+ across all federal agencies to ensure that their work is inclusive and that it reflects the diverse and lived experiences of many women across our country. This will continue to improve training, tools and guidance related to GBA+ to ensure that we can share those best practices and improve our legislation.

I'm proud to say that Canada is a leader on this front, with the implementation of the GBA+. I thank my honourable colleague for continuing this work as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Thank you so much, Minister.

I do encourage anybody who hasn't seen the GBA+ training, which is free on the website, to take that.

Ms. Larouche, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Minister, I have a lot to say to you before your testimony ends.

First, I would like to return to a topic that my colleague Mrs. Roberts mentioned, namely the fact that older women are more likely to live in poverty. This can perpetuate a cycle of violence.

You boast about lowering the retirement age from 67 to 65. However, what is your government’s position on the retirement age? Have you had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Seniors? By increasing pensions only for people aged 75 and over, you have created an unacceptable inequity that is being denounced by women aged 65 to 74, who have not received any increase.

Finally, what is your view on retirement, Minister?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Thank you for your question.

I'll say this again. Our government continues to support senior women. Through the Department for Women and Gender Equality, we're going to continue to fund and support women's organizations that directly target seniors, so that seniors can get the support they need.

I was initially citing the example of the Malton Women Council. Through the funding they have received through the Department for Women and Gender Equality, they're helping seniors who have faced gender-based violence to ensure they're getting the support they need on the ground, whether that's resources or emotional support.

I actually spoke with one of the victims just last week when I was there. She told me directly that, with the support, they were able to help her have a better chance at getting a shot at life again.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

That is not what they are asking for. I receive emails from senior women across the country asking for this pension increase for people aged 65 to 74. For them, too, poverty and illness do not wait until age 75. You can discuss this with your colleague, the Secretary of State for Seniors.

That said, you ended your previous intervention by talking about Gender-Based Analysis Plus, or GBA Plus, and its importance. I also receive emails from people who are concerned about cuts in your department. We know there will be a reduction in program spending.

How will we measure the results of GBA Plus in other departments if there are no internal resources? Will this compromise the quality and depth of GBA Plus?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Thank you for your question.

What I can say is that, with all the supports—and we've already pre-announced some of these supports that will help women all across the country—what advocates have asked for is funding to support victims of gender-based violence. I've already talked about that. Also, they've asked for supports to ensure we're building affordable homes in this country. Through our Build Canada Homes program and initiative, we're going to continue building homes at a faster rate.

When women in this country get the housing and support they need, they'll be able to—

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Thank you, Minister. I'm sorry, but that's the time.

Now we're going to Ms. Cody for five minutes.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for coming here today.

I'll get right into the questions.

Small businesses are going bankrupt at alarming rates. Women who own businesses are disproportionately affected. As the minister for women and small businesses, this is under your watch. Are you proud of this record, yes or no?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

What I can say is that small and medium-sized enterprises make up almost 98% of all businesses in this country. Our government has been there and will continue to be there for small businesses—

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Just give a simple yes-or-no answer. Is it yes or no?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

What I can say is that we're using every tool in our government to support small businesses so that they can get the help they need, especially during these challenging times.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Respectfully, Minister, that's not the answer to my question, so I'll take it as a no.

Minister, these investments aren't working. Despite $7 billion in funding, the women entrepreneurship strategy has failed to reach its targets. The women venture capital initiative has been closed down after funding only five organizations. Ten years of bad Liberal policies have left women struggling. Are you supporting these failures, yes or no?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

We are committed to ensuring that our government is going to create a vibrant and sustainable venture capital initiative—

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Again, Minister, is the answer yes or no?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

We are going to continue to support them through our venture capital—

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Okay. I'll have to move on to the next question. I'll take that as a no.

When you were running your small business, did you ascribe to the notion that it was okay to balance your operational budget but run massive debt in your balance sheet, yes or no?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

With my business, I sought every opportunity to look for the support that I needed. Through our women entrepreneurship strategy, we are providing just that. We're providing supports through loans—

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Okay, I'll have to take that as a no as well. The obvious answer is no, because the bank would call your loans. Do you agree?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Again, through the women entrepreneurship strategy, we're providing loans, supporting this incredible ecosystem right across this country so that small businesses can help start-ups scale their businesses, get the resources they need—

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Okay, I have only a few moments of time here, so I'll go on to the next question.

Your funding of $382.5 million to women-led organizations is building bureaucracy. How long will women with small businesses have to wait to hear on results from the government?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

I disagree with the premise of that question. Through the women entrepreneurship strategy, we have already provided supports to over 490,000 women entrepreneurs across the country. That's a $7-billion investment that we have made. We're also moving the needle with the majority of women-owned businesses. We have moved the needle from 16.8% in 2020 up to now 17.8%. This is an improvement to empowering women to start up and grow their businesses, and it's also helping women gain the independence they need to grow the strongest economy in the G7.

I'm very—

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Okay, so why are Liberals paying hundreds of millions of dollars to consultants who will tell us what we already know, instead of providing the funding to the women your department is supposed to help?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Our government is investing through the women entrepreneurship strategy. This is supporting 20 federal departments. We have supported over 490,000 women. We have provided 35,700 loans. These are loans and supports for women to be able to invest in their businesses, grow their businesses and create jobs for Canadians. This is real support that is going to benefit them; typically, they wouldn't have had the support to be able to do so in the past—