Status of Women Committee on May 28th, 2026

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

This is for you, Ms. De Fina: For individuals trying to escape violence, addiction in the home or trafficking situations, does the presence of active drug use in standard shelters recreate the very conditions they are trying to leave?

How does that affect their sense of safety, their recovery and even their willingness to stay in the system at all?

[Jasmine De Fina]

In my experience, through the work I've done, all survivors are different. They all have different needs, routes and services that they think are best for them.

I will say that the majority of the women I have supported prefer to be abstinence-based and to go into sober living environments. They find it harmful to live in harm reduction spaces. However, there is a need for harm reduction spaces, as well, for those who aren't ready for sober living just yet.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Unfortunately, we're hearing a lot about elder abuse, and the trafficking of seniors is on the rise.

Would you agree that government Bill C-16 should also include persons of trust within the definitions of “coercion” and “intimate partner violence” to further protect seniors escaping violence and abuse?

[Jasmine De Fina]

Absolutely. We are seeing this as well. I agree with that.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

That's perfect.

We're also seeing more youth entering shelters and encampments. When young people are placed in general shelter settings alongside adults dealing with addiction or violence, what risk does that create? Is that an appropriate model for these vulnerable youth?

[Jasmine De Fina]

Absolutely not. It's an inappropriate model. The adults who have been in these situations for years pose a threat to the youth who are coming in. They often recruit them into gangs, violence, trafficking, drug use and the trafficking of drugs and other stuff.

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

My next question is for Sue Bookchin.

There is often an assumption that shelters are stable, controlled environments, but the day-to-day reality can be much more unpredictable, especially when staff are managing complex behaviours and safety concerns.

How much control do staff actually have with regard to maintaining order and safety, and what impacts do burnout and fatigue have on maintaining safe environments?

[Sue Bookchin]

I can speak about transition houses.

I know less about shelters not built specifically for women escaping violence, but I have heard a lot about women feeling unsafe in them. There are far fewer parameters and contexts in which staff have control over that. Again, it's short-staffing.

Even in transition houses, people are limited in terms of how they can ensure that the workplace environment is supporting everybody's well-being, staff as well as clients. It has a lot to do with the leadership of the organization and whether they have been trained and—

[Connie Cody, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Thank you.

I have one question I would like to ask Julie St-Pierre Gaudreault.

In your last appearance before this committee during our study on section 810 of the Criminal Code, you noted that the section often creates a false sense of security for women in abusive relationships due to unenforced peace bonds.

Can you speak to how the lack of enforcement on this issue creates additional dangers for women entering shelters?

[Julie St-Pierre-Gaudreault]

We did indeed appear as part of the study on breaches of peace bonds imposed under section 810 of the Criminal Code. We noticed that Quebec saw multiple breaches, which are sanctioned under section 811. So, when women had to apply for a section 810 order for their own protection, they had a false sense of security. Again, in fact, there are—

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

Thank you, Ms. St‑Pierre‑Gaudreault. I gave Ms. Cody more time as a result of a technical glitch.

Ms. Ménard, you're bringing up the rear. You have the floor for five minutes.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'll turn again to the representatives of the Fédération des maisons d'hébergement pour femmes.

With the creation of Build Canada Homes, we can support the construction of new homes. Should we be looking at any specific characteristics? I'm thinking of first‑stage housing and—to get back to my dream—third‑stage housing.

What type of models should we consider?

[Julie St-Pierre-Gaudreault]

We have some concerns. In fact, they aren't necessarily concerns.

Build Canada Homes is currently a fairly large and unclear machine. Many criteria have yet to be determined. We know that new first‑stage housing may be funded. In the beginning, this wasn't necessarily clear. The idea was probably more to support the development of transitional housing or somewhat more permanent housing.

On our end, we consider it a priority to ensure that the housing is affordable. Of course, we also want to build housing outside the private market. This is vital to maintaining affordability. Certainly, first‑stage and second‑stage housing are among my priorities. The networks are currently overwhelmed. We see this need on the ground.

Moreover, when it comes to building permanent housing, the housing must be accessible. It can be low‑cost and single‑sex housing, meaning housing for women. Again, it can also be long‑term, permanent and single‑sex housing.

In the national housing strategy, 25% of the budget was earmarked for women's housing. In our opinion, this should be renewed in any new strategy.

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

Ms. Bigaouette, you're obviously based in Quebec. However, in your opinion, should certain regions be given priority? Are any of them really lagging in terms of the services provided?

[Mylène Bigaouette]

Quebec has a task force working on this issue. This task force is made up of a number of partners. Of course, regions such as Montreal are overwhelmed right now. We're particularly concerned by the fact that a number of regions lack shelters that have broader missions and that can take in women who have experienced different forms of violence or violence other than domestic abuse. I'm thinking in particular of Côte‑Nord, Abitibi‑Témiscamingue, Chaudière‑Appalaches, Bas‑Saint‑Laurent and other specific regions that don't have any shelters of this nature.

For example, if a woman is experiencing violence at the hands of the owner of her home or has experienced domestic violence and hidden homelessness, as Ms. St‑Pierre‑Gaudreault explained, this woman must move to another region to find housing because she won't be able to find a shelter in her own area.

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

Ms. Bookchin, my constituency has an organization called Avant Coup that works with men who have anger management and violence issues. The organization serves only these clients. We've had a number of discussions with this organization. The organization laments the fact that women victims of domestic violence are often the ones who must uproot themselves. Their children must also move to a different region and sometimes enrol in new schools. This adds a great deal of turmoil to the transition.

When we come up with new models to support women trying to escape domestic violence, do we need to rethink how we help women get a roof over their heads?

[Sue Bookchin]

Absolutely. That is really, desperately needed. The burden that is on the shoulders of women is just untenable. When you've been traumatized and abused, to have to leave your home and not know where you're going to live or not know how you're going to support yourself or your children is torturous. It's a torturous path for women.

We need to think about ways to hold men accountable. If the people who are committing violence are the people who need to be removed, how do we do that in a way that keeps them accountable and also provides them with the services they need in order to change their behaviours? Otherwise, they just go on to do the same thing with other partners.

I think it's an innovative idea that we need to really pursue.

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

Thank you.

I just want to remind each of you, since you were interrupted at times, that we would appreciate any recommendations or additional information that you can send to the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

I would like to thank all the witnesses for joining us today. It was quite helpful.

I would also like to thank my colleagues, who once again elevated the level of the debate.

I hope that you have a good evening.

The meeting is adjourned.