Status of Women Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

That's your time.

We go to Mr. Chen for five minutes.

[Shaun Chen, Liberal, Scarborough North, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you to the minister, the RCMP, and department officials for being here today.

We are here because we are all concerned about intimate partner, gender-based and domestic violence. I also want to provide a quote from the Halifax Regional Police Chief Don MacLean, who said, in fact, this week, “As Police Chief, I believe I have a duty to victims, survivors and all citizens...to support any initiative that can reduce the presence of firearms in our communities.”

We know that violence comes in many forms. Weapons of all kinds are used in such cases, but fatal cases, more often than not, involve serious firearms.

Minister, what do you have to say in response to comments like those of Chief MacLean and other law enforcement agencies and police officers, who are working hard on the front lines each and every day to stop these horrible incidents from happening?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

I want to thank the chief in Halifax. I also want to note that many police leaders and frontline law enforcement across Canada have been working very hard, under very difficult circumstances, especially when they're dealing with families and individuals who are impacted by intimate partner violence.

It comes in many forms, like coercive control. There are so many different layers to the impacts of it, and also to the approach that individuals use to hurt others. When we look at firearms, as an example, it is one of many issues that contribute to intimate partner violence. When we have direct evidence on certain types of firearms, based on evidence and expert conclusions from the RCMP, we take advice from them. As we continue to strengthen our laws, it will ensure greater safety and security.

The issues around intimate partner violence are also much deeper. It goes to issues around income insecurity and dependency, the fact that women often make far less than their male counterparts, and a lot of underlying social issues that, frankly, as a government we've been trying to close the gap on. However, there's still a lot more work to do. It is much more of a holistic approach that we need to take toward addressing intimate partner violence. I believe we've taken some very important steps in that direction, but there's still more to be done.

[Shaun Chen, Liberal, Scarborough North, ON]

Thank you.

Minister, I appreciate your raising the issue of social and economic factors. Our committee has, in fact, heard from witnesses about the need for education and prevention, as they are key to raising awareness about intimate partner, domestic and gender-based violence. However, in addition to that, it's also about what is being done to support survivors. What actions is the government taking to increase community safety, to reduce violent offending and to support survivors of these crimes?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

I think the issues around victims' rights and support for victims are very important. I spoke about Bill C-16.

Let me just ask the deputy minister to elaborate on some of the programs that we have supporting victims directly.

[Tricia Geddes, Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Yes, indeed, we have made some significant investments, at our national office, to support victims and public safety. The question was also about offenders and support to offenders' programs to make sure that the victims are well supported through that programming as well. There are a number of programs that have been implemented by the Correctional Service of Canada to ensure that offenders there are provided with programmatic supports to ensure that they are being addressed, but also to ensure that victims of those offenders have also been given those same types of rights and supports that they require.

[Shaun Chen, Liberal, Scarborough North, ON]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

I think we have just enough time for each party to have three minutes to ask questions.

We'll start with Mr. Brock for three minutes, then we'll go to Ms. Nathan, and then we'll go to Madame Larouche.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, in response to Ms. Cody's questions regarding the lack of effectiveness of section 810 orders and breaches of section 810 orders, I believe your commentary—correct me if I'm wrong—was something to the effect that we have a problem not only with enforcement but also with the process in terms of whether the prosecution will continue a prosecution. I agree with you. If the Crown proceeds by indictment, the penalty is four years.

In light of that, have you taken the opportunity—and I think the opportunity exists—to have regular meetings with your provincial and territorial counterparts? Do you do that, and how often do you do that?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

I do that very regularly.

First off, the group as a whole had an FPT meeting back in October in Kananaskis.

With respect to my provincial counterparts, I have regular conversations. For example, I had a conversation with Mr. Kerzner today, and I'm meeting Minister Ellis next Friday. It's very regular, I would say, with most of the provinces, although not all. However, there are certainly ongoing conversations.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

As you know, I'm a former Crown attorney. One of the biggest problems I had was talking to my counterparts across Canada and seeing major differences in terms of the priority and the process by which offences that should have not only local but also national importance, particularly in the context of this committee, protecting women at risk.... There are often either police services that just simply don't have an interest in charging under section 811 or prosecutors who do not want to spend the time to continue a prosecution.

Do you think, as a general rule, that there would be some merit in establishing national standards for the way Crown prosecutors right across this country deal with IPV offences generally—specifically as relates to terminology in section 810 orders and enforcement—and for how they proceed, depending on the facts scenario with the prosecution? Do you see merit, and will you commit today to making that a priority when you have your next general meeting?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

I do see merit in it, and I'd be glad to look at it further and more deeply, Mr. Brock.

I will say that this particular issue would be led by the Minister of Justice. I know he's appearing in a few minutes, so I would pose that question to him.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

He's listening behind you, and he's shaking his head.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

We're closing up here, Minister, so I'm going to turn to Ms. Nathan for three minutes.

[Juanita Nathan, Liberal, Pickering—Brooklin, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, I want to ask if you could highlight all the bills that are stuck in committees and not moving forward, some of them for eight months. The bill they are saying they helped pass was obstructed for six hours straight.

Can you please talk a little bit about Bill C-2, Bill C-8, Bill C-9, Bill C-12 and Bill C-14, which could have actually helped Canadians?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

First of all, with regard to the previous point that Mr. Brock made, I want to thank the justice committee for the work on Bill C-14 and for concluding that. Let me also say that there is a need in Canada right now for greater collaboration and greater ability for people to work together. Former prime minister Stephen Harper—be surprised, because I don't quote him often—underscored that point this week.

What I would say is that there's no party that has exclusivity on the safety and security of Canadians and on public safety overall. My responsibility, my task as Minister of Public Safety, is to ensure that law enforcement has the right tools to be able to do its job. Bill C-2 is still in the House. I would implore all parties to come together on the passage of Bill C-2 because that lawful access is, in my opinion—and every law enforcement agency I've spoken to has said this—the single most important tool that law enforcement needs to be able to do its job.

Again, I will end by saying that we have opportunities to work in greater collaboration, and I look forward to that bearing fruit in the coming weeks and months.

[Juanita Nathan, Liberal, Pickering—Brooklin, ON]

I want to take the last 30 seconds to thank the staff who are here and the minister for making it to the committee and addressing all our questions.

Thank you so much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Excellent.

Ms. Larouche, you have the floor for three minutes.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, the reason I asked questions earlier on behalf of women's groups is that in Quebec, six women lost their lives at the hands of their partners in January 2026 alone. That's a statistic that doesn't bode well for the coming year. There is an alarming rise in domestic violence that requires an urgent response from your government.

The fourth femicide took place in my riding, Shefford. I want to reiterate my condolences to the loved ones of Véronic Champagne, the mother who was killed. It's horrible. An entire community is traumatized.

Minister, we need to find solutions. Do you acknowledge that section 810 of the Criminal Code is often used too late? Based on the comments made by Mélanie Lavoie, a friend of the victim, Véronic Champagne, femicides are the most predictable crimes. Do you acknowledge that section 810 is being used too late, when the risk of femicide is already high?

Does the RCMP have staff to effectively monitor compliance with domestic violence conditions? Why are there still long response times when a woman reports a breach of conditions?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

Thank you, Madame Larouche.

Let me just say that it's horrifying to see the numbers that have come out, especially from Quebec, in the last several weeks. It's truly heartbreaking, and it makes me both sad and angry at the same time.

There are some legislative responses that are in front of the House. I don't want to repeat that, but I would say we need to have greater enforcement and greater co-operation as issues evolve.

With respect to section 810, enforcement is a key part of it. If there is a sense that it is being used too late in the process, perhaps that's something we need to look at deeply. I know the justice minister will be able to answer and probably commit a bit more than I am able to, but let me extend my condolences to all those who were impacted by these horrendous losses.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Thank you so much, Minister.

On behalf of the committee, thank you for appearing.

That finishes our first panel. I'll suspend briefly while we bring in the second panel.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

We're back.

I would like to welcome the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Sean Fraser.

Thank you, Minister, for being here.

This is a very important topic. We know women are dying from femicide nearly every day in Canada, and sexual assault is at an all-time high, so we appreciate your being here.

We also have, from the Department of Justice, Matthew Taylor, who is senior general counsel and director general, criminal law policy section; and Chelsea Moore, who is senior counsel, criminal law policy section.

Minister, you'll get five minutes for your opening remarks, after which we will proceed to our rounds of questions.

The floor is yours for five minutes.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

It's a pleasure to be here to discuss a very important issue for our country.

Public safety is obviously a major priority for Canadians. It's become a major priority for the government and, in fact, that was clearly demonstrated during the recent federal election campaign with a series of commitments around public safety.

It's clear that within public safety there are certain issues that demand we all, as Canadians, pay distinct attention to them. The scourge of gender-based violence we've seen in our communities needs to be addressed.

I heard the announcement of a sixth femicide in Quebec this year. That's hard to believe. We need to take action to address violence against women on a daily basis in communities across the country.

Before we get into the specific questions you may have—and I'll endeavour to be under time so that we can save time for those questions—I just want to situate this conversation within the public safety strategy that the Government of Canada has adopted, which rests on three key pillars.

The first is to adopt stronger criminal laws to combat hate, to reform bail and sentencing, to take action on intimate partner violence and to protect our kids against exploitation online and in the real world. In addition to these pieces of legislation, we're taking a broader approach to how we combat crime and enhance public safety.

The second pillar in the strategy, in that regard, is to make investments in the front line, whether those are new RCMP officers, new officers at the border or additional supports for community organizations, including organizations that support victims of crime and including support for women's organizations that support victims of sexual violence and gender-based violence.

The third pillar of the strategy, which I view to be the most important in the long term, is to make the upstream investments to help build healthier people and healthier communities, which will translate into safer communities. This involves a series of investments in affordable housing, in supportive housing and in mental health and addictions. It involves programs that target at-risk youth. In the longer term, it involves investments in infrastructure that allow people to live in, and enjoy, safe communities with access to the recreational and cultural infrastructure that allows them to fully participate in life in their communities.

There are a number of bills before the House of Commons. I've had the opportunity to appear before different committees, to an extent, in particular on Bill C-16, which I expect will go to the justice committee. If this committee is interested in having me appear again to discuss the minutia of that particular piece of legislation, please know that I would be grateful to do that.

In closing, Madam Chair, the first two and a half years of my career as a parliamentarian—as you know well, having chaired capably during that time—were spent on this committee. It was an enormous professional honour for me to be able to work across partisan lines to establish recommendations that were in fact adopted into government policy to help combat gender-based violence in particular. We've relied on some of those recommendations to inform the legislation that I've just described.

I'm happy to hear what recommendations this committee may have in respect of those pieces of legislation and on the important issue of gender-based violence more broadly.

Thank you, everyone. It's a great pleasure to be here. I look forward to your questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Thank you so much, Minister.

There is just a word of advice from the interpreters for you to speak more slowly, please.

We're going to start our first round of six minutes with Mr. Brock.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Good afternoon, Minister. Good afternoon, Mr. Taylor. Good afternoon, Ms. Moore.

Mr. Taylor, it feels like it has only been a few hours since we last saw each other. Nevertheless, I am happy to get Bill C-14 over that finish line.

Minister, you highlighted an important aspect: Public safety is a priority for this government, which is led by the Prime Minister. I have often said, at many town halls across this country, that the number one responsibility of the federal government is to keep Canadians safe.

You also referenced how you've been listening to Canadians. Even in your year-end interview with a national press representative, you talked about how the government has been listening very carefully to what victims and Canadians have been asking for, and, clearly, what stakeholders have been asking for.

You would agree with me, Minister, that this is not a recent phenomenon. We have known that crime across the whole spectrum has been rising steadily since 2015. I will throw out some stats: Violent crime is up nearly 55%; homicides are up 30%; sexual assaults are up 76%; firearms crime is up 131%; and extortion is up 330%. Canadians are fearful. Female victims are fearful. Intimate partner violence is on the rise. They are asking themselves why they even trust law enforcement or the criminal justice system.

That's near and dear to my heart, Minister, because, as a former Crown attorney, I took great pride in trying to establish that bond and rapport with a victim in order to give them hope that they were part of team justice, and to give them confidence that the justice system is fair and responsive to their needs and would provide a just result. They did not always get that, but at least they felt they were heard.

This is something that's not a recent phenomenon. The government, since 2015, has been hearing this repeatedly every year. Since my election in 2021, it has been a common theme the government has been hearing, so I was very grateful to hear, in the throne speech, that there was going to be a priority to introduce appropriate crime legislation.

The only frustration I have, Minister, is with the stats. You'd agree with me, because these stats would not lie. We had the election on April 28. The House opened on May 26. The throne speech was on May 27. The first reading of your first crime bill, Bill C-9, was on September 19, 2025. Bill C-14 had its first reading on October 23, 2025. Bill C-16's was on December 9, 2025. We are now, to this date, literally 225 days removed from the election, and we have passed only one bill at second reading. It has gone through the justice committee. That is Bill C-14.

My question for you is very simple: Why did you prioritize Bill C-9 over Bill C-14 and Bill C-16 when issues with sentencing, bail and IPV have been prevalent for the last 10 years?