Status of Women Committee on May 7th, 2026

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

Thank you very much, colleague. That's all the time we have. The question has been asked. I don't know if anyone else would like to answer it.

The little bit of confusion earlier was due to the fact that we did not start a new round. We suspended the meeting and then resumed. Now, with Mrs. Roberts, we have begun a new round of questions.

Mr. Chen, you have the floor.

[Shaun Chen, Liberal, Scarborough North, ON]

During these types of reforms, survivors often tell us that what matters most in the immediate aftermath of violence is whether they can access timely, practical support close to home.

Can you speak to what WAGE is doing to strengthen survivor services and improve access to supports for women and children who are fleeing violence?

[Frances McRae]

Clearly, those fleeing violence need safe places to be, and they need access to supports. I think we all have seen that demonstrated time and time again. We play a part in that ecosystem at Women and Gender Equality.

We do not directly fund shelters or housing, but we do work with organizations that do quite a lot of work in this area. I will point to the gender-based violence national action plan, because there are certainly supports that are provided by provinces and territories through that national action plan—which is partly funded by the federal government—to very specific housing supports and shelters.

For us, it's really about working with those on the ground who, again, know exactly what needs to happen, and being able to ensure, for example, that workers in shelters are trained—have trauma-informed training. As well, some of those shelters work very closely with police forces to make sure there is less traumatization involved in questioning. There are even places where pets are allowed to be. There's a significant amount of work that goes into best practices around the best supports for victims and survivors.

[Shaun Chen, Liberal, Scarborough North, ON]

Thank you very much.

Indigenous, racialized and immigrant women face compounded and intersectional challenges when leaving an abusive relationship. These may relate to systemic and cultural barriers or could even be related to immigration status, creating a vulnerability that can be further exploited by abusers.

How is your department working to recognize this particular challenge and ensuring that supports are available across the country to women who are facing these compounded and intersectional obstacles?

[Frances McRae]

At the Department for Women and Gender Equality, being the lead on gender-based analysis in addition to our work supporting communities, particularly women and gender-diverse people, we build intersectionality into all of the work that we do. We pay particular attention in the calls for proposals that we do and in the proposals that we review, to ensure that we cover off specific communities.

I will perhaps give an example around women with disabilities. In 2024-25, we launched an investment call for equality for senior women and women and girls with disabilities, because we know that those communities are particularly affected. About $2.2 million was invested in projects that would serve women and girls with disabilities primarily as a beginning.

We look through our data and evidence, and we can see through intersectional data that we have key gaps in certain areas. That is, then, how we determine the way ahead.

[Shaun Chen, Liberal, Scarborough North, ON]

In terms of women who are newcomers, who have experienced language barriers, cultural dissonance and unfamiliarity with the system, and who may also be fearful due to immigration status, do you have examples of funding or investments that have been made to support that demographic?

[Frances McRae]

We know that a significant amount of gender-based violence is rooted in culture, and with Canada being a very diverse country—

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

Thank you, Ms. McRae. That's all the time we have for this discussion.

Ms. Larouche, you have two and a half minutes.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the government officials for being here.

I'm going to try to get a better understanding of what will happen in your department, with all of the challenges we have just talked about. I am thinking, in particular, about violence against women and femicides, as well as rising anti-feminism, masculinism and the challenges faced by senior women. Despite everything you have to do in the Department of Women and Gender Equality, the 2026‑27 departmental plan says that, as part of the Government of Canada's comprehensive expenditure review, as set out in the 2025 budget—we've heard about cuts departments are required to make—you anticipate an $8‑million cut in spending each year for 2026‑27, 2027‑28 and 2028‑29. It also says that you are finalizing your approach to achieve these savings in collaboration with the partners involved.

Could you tell the committee what measures are planned in order to achieve the annual savings of $8 million referred to in the departmental plan, as part of this comprehensive expenditure review?

[Frances McRae]

Thank you for your question.

First, you're quite right about the number of issues and problems to be tackled. That said, Women and Gender Equality Canada is an organization of some 400 people, and you will understand that our department is not the only one dealing with issues and problems related to the rights of women, who represent 51% of the population. We have a lot of partnerships. Our role primarily includes supporting projects so we can help staff on the ground.

As for as the $8 million in cuts that you speak of, I have no answer for you, unfortunately, that will tell you exactly how these savings will be achieved.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

Thank you very much, Ms. McRae.

Mrs. Goodridge, you have the floor.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I have a question. How much money does your department spend when it comes to the calls to action for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls?

[Frances McRae]

Missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people is a subject that we have worked on quite a lot with the lead department, which is, as you would know, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. In 2021, Women and Gender Equality Canada received $55 million over five years, and that money is doing its work. We have over 100 first nations, Inuit and Métis organizations—in all provinces and territories—that we're working with. Since 2018, we've funded 134 organizations. That's $89 million, and that includes the $55 million.

It is very important to us, as well, to make sure that we have indigenous-led approaches, and I would point to pillar four in the national action plan, which is very specifically about indigenous women leading those approaches and—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

How much is spent every year by the department? I don't mean a global amount over x number of years. There has to be “this is how much is being spent for this calendar year”.

[Frances McRae]

In 2024-25, investments in those approaches allowed about 186,000 people to access culturally appropriate resources.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Do you know how much money was spent or was allocated in your department in the last budget year?

[Frances McRae]

Are you saying in 2025-26?

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Sure.

[Frances McRae]

We do not have a specific envelope anymore for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. We actually—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

There was a massive inquiry that came up with 231 calls for justice. Two of those calls for justice have been completed; 82 have been started but aren't completed. You are saying that the Department for Women and Gender Equality does not have a budget pocket for completing these calls for justice anymore. It used to, but it doesn't anymore. Is that correct?

[Frances McRae]

We have significant investments that are already in place. Those investments have been made, and they're continuing to do their work. As a department, we always have a significant amount of funding that goes to indigenous women overall, for a range of reasons.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I appreciate that, but we're here to talk about estimates, and “a significant amount” is not a dollar figure. I could possibly forgive a minister for not having a specific dollar figure. However, you're the deputy minister, and you don't have a dollar figure. That is concerning.

[Frances McRae]

There's a specific action plan with specific funds for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. As a department, we invest significantly more than that in the support of indigenous women and girls. We can get you—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Could you table—

[Frances McRae]

I can certainly come back and give you a list of projects that we have funded that would support missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in a global sense, absolutely.