Status of Women Committee on Dec. 8th, 2025

[Vé Mikaelian]

As my colleague mentioned, the problem is not more prominent in one social group than another, but it generally involves men. Statistics don't show that migrant men are more violent than white men. That narrative does not hold water.

I also think that access to services is needed. Women who come often and women who are migrants here don't have access to services. They don't feel that civil society takes them seriously. They feel rejected and uncomfortable about seeking the help they need. Let's give them access to support, make it even easier for them to get it and include them in society as much as possible. I think this is the way we can protect women.

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

Do you think—

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Your time is up.

We'll now move on to Ms. Ménard.

Ms. Ménard, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Liberal, Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, ladies. Your presence here is very valuable.

Since the study began, many witnesses have appeared and each expert opinion has provided us with new insights. That's what makes the effort so worthwhile.

Ms. Gilmore, you're a journalist. You've worked for different media outlets. You're now an independent journalist. I want to take advantage of your presence to hear you testify. You're a public figure. There's a consensus that journalism is a fact-based profession and one of the bulwarks protecting our democracy.

What impact does it have on the rest of society to know that a woman like you, a journalist who works with facts, is exposed to online violence? Some women and girls are insulted and threatened with death and rape every day on social media. Given that a lot of people follow your work, what dynamic does that convey?

[Rachel Gilmore]

I think I'll respond to you in English.

I've stretched my French to the limit. I'm sorry.

I worry constantly about the impact that seeing the vitriol that I face has on young women who are watching and following my journalism. It is one of the things that makes me the most sad, because I want to inspire young women. I don't want them to see what I'm going through and think that they couldn't live with that or that they couldn't do that. I'm not going to sit here and pretend that it's easy. I've had to change how I live my life. There are things I cannot do that I used to do.

[Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Liberal, Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est, QC]

Can you give us some examples?

[Rachel Gilmore]

When I have friends over, I tell them they can't take any photos that show outside my windows. I'm very cautious about sharing live locations when I'm moving around. Actually, I used to go out dancing sometimes and maybe have a couple of drinks. Now I'm usually in bed early and I rarely have more than two drinks, just because I'm afraid of being in any way out of control in public, lest one of my harassers or the men who have threatened me show up in person.

It's even impacted my partner, who is a musician. I've had individuals show up at his concerts to film me and harass me, so I even have to be cautious with sharing that part of my life and if I'm ever moving around. There are tons of things that I have to do, and it's very unpleasant.

I'm not sure if you had another question, or if you wanted me to speak to the issue of the....

[Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Liberal, Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est, QC]

In fact, the experience that you're telling us about right now might lead you to believe that young girls would be discouraged from pursuing a career in journalism or from putting themselves out there in the public space.

[Rachel Gilmore]

Absolutely.

It's a free speech issue; it absolutely is. There are going to be young women who see my experience and choose not to go into the profession that I am in, which breaks my heart. I think it's why people do this. I think it's why I deal with the harassment I deal with, in part, because people want there to be fewer voices that aren't straight, white men in journalism.

I tick most of those privilege boxes in general, but I do think there is a desire to silence people doing journalism the way I'm doing it, given the fact that I'm an outspoken young woman—well, youngish.

It's devastating to think of that, and that's why I also try to project strength and show that this isn't stopping me. If they ever choose to go into journalism, there is a whole community of women who will have their back, but there are a lot of men trying to make it scary.

[Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Liberal, Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est, QC]

Ladies, my next question is for both of you. You're both active in the digital space, the web space. What can you tell us about what's happening regarding the impact of hashtags and how community aggregation works in the case of antifeminism?

[Vé Mikaelian]

I don't know if hashtags are the problem, but I don't think these communities form as easily in the mainstream media as they do in niche communities like Reddit or other similar media, which let people use hashtags to locate a community or a chat group on specific topics and which they make their home and favourite location. The mainstream media let people express their opinions and attack individuals like my colleague here. However, the finer details are really covered on more alternative channels.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Thank you very much.

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

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Once again, Ms. Gilmore and Ms. Mikaelian, thank you very much for your testimonies.

Ms. Gilmore, I would add that journalism is not the only field where women are more sensitive to the phenomenon of violence. Right now, I think that women account for barely 30% of politicians, and so there's a regression there. I'm convinced that no woman would say she would willingly expose herself to such violence, or expose her children to it. It's something we don't talk about enough. There should be more women in politics.

What could be done at the federal level? We're in solution mode. I asked you about the Criminal Code question, and we're trying to come up with proposals for the federal government on supporting action by the media.

Ms. Mikaelian, there is another matter that comes under the federal government's jurisdiction. You talked about government policies. One of the federal government's responsibilities is foreign policy. This morning, I met with Afghan women and their message is that Canada must continue its leadership. However, they're worried, because it's concerning to read that Canadian foreign policy is no longer feminist. That's the message it sends.

[Vé Mikaelian]

It's sending the worst possible message.

It's important to apply gender-based analysis plus to all policies and legislation, to make it a primary focus. Otherwise, people will be left behind. When the rights of marginalized or minority groups come under attack, it slowly wears away at everyone's rights. One day, women's rights will come under attack. Anyone's rights can become diminished. That's how we need to approach the issue, from that perspective.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Thank you.

Mrs. Vien, you have the floor for five minutes.

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I'm going to share a little slice of life. I'm a journalist by training and trade. Obviously, I don't practise journalism now that I'm a member of Parliament. I also come from the community sector. When I was a journalist, I was personally targeted because I covered a story that didn't sit well with certain people, and they let me know it. That dates back many years, so it being easy to confront a woman this way is nothing new. However, I digress.

All that to say that it's good to have women and girls in journalism who take the bull by the horns. In politics, other women are advancing the cause of women.

Last week, I gave a speech—as we all did, by the way—on the sad Polytechnique commemoration. I don't know how many people spoke to me about that speech over the weekend, but there's some glimmer of hope. That's what I was trying to say earlier: This glimmer of hope was the outcome of small acts that everyone is capable of.

Ms. Mikaelian, earlier you said that feminist organizations need more funding. Does the Fédération des femmes du Québec receive funding from the federal government?

[Vé Mikaelian]

Yes, it receives some funding for certain projects.

Right now, we have a project on paid internships that's funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada, but that's not where most of our funding comes from.

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

In any case, we're concerned because the departmental plan of the Department for Women and Gender Equality could include budget cuts. Is that something that might worry you? You seem well informed.

[Vé Mikaelian]

Yes, for sure.

Less public sector funding means fewer opportunities to secure the resources needed to carry out our work, which is to fight and to continue amassing all the knowledge we need to carry on the fight.

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

Earlier, you talked about coercive control. I just want to reassure you about one thing: The women at the table are asking the Government of Canada to fast-track the former Bill C‑332, which proposed the criminalization of coercive control. The bill received unanimous support in the House of Commons and made it to the Senate, but then died on the Order Paper just a few weeks later.

Is criminalizing coercive control the right thing to do?

[Vé Mikaelian]

I don't have an official position from the federation stating that we absolutely must criminalize coercive control. From a personal standpoint, however, I can say yes, it's something that should be included in the Criminal Code. Right now, women are being subjected to acts of violence that aren't acknowledged as acts of violence.

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

Okay.

It's such a vague concept. It's clear to us but, in everyday life, there are people who won't know what coercive control is. So training and awareness are needed.

I'll take you down a different path. We received Partage au masculin, a group I've known in Beauce for about 30 years. They're really nice, and I encourage you to get in touch with them. They take guys who are angry, who can't take it anymore, who are fed up, who blame everyone, especially women, and who are overwhelmed by events. They take them and support them. They also maintain connections with other women's groups to create connections between men and women so that they can learn to communicate and respect each other.

Would that be a possibility for the federation? Is that an option that you've already developed or considered? You're a strong organization in Quebec.

[Vé Mikaelian]

Would it be to work with men?

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

It would be to work with other groups of men.

[Vé Mikaelian]

I must admit that no, and sometimes I tell myself—