Status of Women Committee on June 16th, 2026

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Ms. Huntjens, once again, thank you very much for coming to speak to us. My thanks also go to Ms. Prévost and Ms. Brunot.

As I said earlier, there is a health challenge. Let's also remember that there are things the federal government can intervene in, such as research and drug approvals. However, one thing that is not up to us is how the health care system is applied.

However, I would remind you that, when we talk about the need for doctors, it also means giving the health care system more resources. On that note, we are hoping for more transfers in recognition of everything that health system specialists do. We need to give Quebec and the provinces more breathing room and more financial resources for health care.

I would like to come back to another, broader aspect that, as I said, is the economic issue.

Ms. Prévost, I understand that you proposed three recommendations: better information, better support and better training. Beyond that, let's talk about the economic effects in the workplace. Ms. Prévost, you can answer first, and if Ms. Brunot wants to add something, she can.

We've talked a lot about workplace accommodation, but also about menstrual leave more generally.

If there were menstrual leave, should we also think about providing specific leave for women who experience more serious consequences related to perimenopause and menopause?

Are there employment insurance benefits that could help women take care of themselves for a while?

Where should we start to help them economically?

[Anne-Patricia Prévost]

As you said, it would concern some women. I would really not be in favour of a standardized solution. We really shouldn't stigmatize this.

I think we really need to look at and document the impairments that symptoms can cause, just like any other symptom.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Ms. Brunot, do you want to add anything?

[Élise Brunot]

I completely agree with Dr. Prévost.

We have a very concrete example today. Spain has taken a step back from introducing menstrual leave.

Our own position is extremely nuanced, because we mustn't engage in stigmatization. That is, in fact, the challenge. The idea would be that health leave would be available and that menopause leave would be part of that type of leave.

We know that the issue of menstrual leave is a high-profile issue. That's to be expected. These issues require a bit of nuance and foresight.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

I know my time is up, but I would like to talk about reform—

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

Your time is up, Ms. Larouche. I'm sorry.

Mrs. Goodridge, you have the floor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to all the witnesses for being here today.

Ms. Huntjens, I'm going to direct some of my questions to you.

I was wondering what kind of traditional indigenous knowledge exists around the space of menopause and perimenopause. Oftentimes, I feel like we have traditional knowledge, plants and medicine, and they aren't necessarily incorporated into western medicine and beliefs. Oftentimes we can learn from that. I know I used and had the benefit of having an indigenous midwife for the birth of my two boys. I got to learn about different herbs and stuff like that. Is there any space where we can learn about menopause and perimenopause that comes from the indigenous lens of the traditional knowledge?

[Evelyn Huntjens]

Yes. There's a focus on the emotional, spiritual and physical well-being of the individual that takes a holistic approach to well-being rather than looking at it just from a western perspective of a medical condition and treating it as a medical condition. There are traditional medicines that support with symptoms, but it's also being able to have that spiritual, emotional and mental well-being looked at as well.

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

That's wonderful.

Are you aware of any spaces where there is research into indigenous women's health and incorporating traditional knowledge into the treatment of perimenopause or menopause in Canada or around the world?

[Evelyn Huntjens]

Australia has done a lot of work looking at menopause and perimenopause, and they've also looked at indigenous populations. Countries like the U.K. and Australia are quite farther ahead on some of the research into menopause and perimenopause. Some of those frameworks could be really—

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

Is it specific to the traditional knowledge of indigenous people?

[Evelyn Huntjens]

I don't know that there's research being done. I know that individual communities will look at some of their medicines to support perimenopause and menopause. The communities believe that a community works and includes everyone together, so they often have different views of disability. When it comes to health impacts such as perimenopause and menopause, it could be treated very differently in different communities across Canada based on the local medicines and on how they support their communities. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

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

I wasn't implying that there would be a one-size-fits-all approach. We have a variety of different spaces. I'm very fortunate that I get to be the member of Parliament for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake. That covers both Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 territories. There are differences between the two different first nations and how they approach some of these pieces.

I have been really touched to see the intergenerational sharing of information, the respect of elders and those kinds of conversations that perhaps don't necessarily happen in society as a whole. I've been blessed personally to have indigenous elders share with me some of their traditional ways of carrying babies when they're sick or different spaces like that that have really helped me in doing my job and being a mom.

If there's an opportunity for you to share even just your community and some of what they do, that would be spectacular for this committee.

[Evelyn Huntjens]

I don't have any specifics when it comes to perimenopause and menopause on specific treatments. I live outside of my first nation, so I don't have that care. Often when people leave communities.... Unfortunately, through colonization, my grandparents left our community, so I don't have that connection with my community. I do know, from working with first nations communities and the holistic approach that's taken, that there is care given, and the types of—

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

Thank you, Ms. Huntjens.

We have one speaker left, Ms. Nathan. She will have the floor for five minutes.

Afterwards, the committee members will have to stay here for two short minutes, since we have decisions to make.

Ms. Nathan, the floor is yours.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Through you, I'll direct this question to Ms. Brunot.

I'm very conscious that not every woman has the same ability to navigate menopause. A professional with paid sick leave, workplace flexibility and extended health benefits may have options that are simply unavailable to someone who's working shift work or multiple jobs or in precarious employment. There's a risk that many of the solutions we discuss will benefit women who already have access to workplace supports, while leaving behind those facing the greatest economic pressure.

How do menopause experiences differ for women working in low-income, precarious, frontline or shift work? What policies would help ensure that these women are not left behind?

[Élise Brunot]

I'll try to give a brief answer to that question, which is obviously very general.

I would say that we need to listen to these women's voices. We need to open up discussions in the workplace. That is what we will always advocate for. When a workplace is interested in the issue and contacts us, our first recommendation is to set up a workplace committee and tell women that what they say will not be judged.

We're advocating for that. We're trying to start from what women say and set up something in the workplace that's consistent with the workplace itself.

It's hard to standardize practices. We see workplaces, completely individually and through pilot projects, implementing ways to support women in terms of menstruation and menopause.

In short, I would say that we need to listen to women.

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

If you could create policies for this that govern all of Canada, or if you could legislate, what would that look like?

[Élise Brunot]

I wasn't expecting that question.

I would say that education has to come first. I would tend to say that, whatever extremely specific decisions are made regarding legislation, nothing can be done without properly educating, I might add, the entire population.

When we talk about a pilot project for distributing menstrual products in schools and workplaces, we always say the same thing. You can set up whatever you want, but if no awareness is raised among the entire population to show the merits of these measures, to make women's voices heard and to ensure that the people who aren't concerned adhere to what's being put in place, it can't work.

We're talking about something so ingrained that we need to free our voices, raise awareness, take the time to discuss it, challenge ourselves and assess what is being put in place. That's very important as well. You don't just implement something and then say it's done. It needs to be assessed on a regular basis. We have to adjust as needed to ensure that no one is left behind.

Put that way, it obviously seems like a big job. We know we can't snap our fingers and it's done.

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

Thank you.

Dr. Prévost, how do broader social determinants of health shape women's menopause experience? What policy area, beyond health care, should government be examining?

[Anne-Patricia Prévost]

Again, we need to avoid stigmatization and standardization.

Personally, I completely agree with Ms. Brunot. There needs to be awareness and education. That's where we should go first, before trying to legislate or put policies in place. That's what will make us change our approach and our culture and make us more sensitive. That will really be the winning approach.

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

Thank you.

The last question is for Ms. Huntjens. Several population studies have found significant gaps in data concerning marginalized populations, making it very difficult to develop targeted policies and supports—

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

Ms. Nathan, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to cut you off. It goes so fast.

Witnesses, we would have liked to get your opinion on a lot of things. I've interrupted you many times, and I apologize. We would like to receive in writing any comments you were unable to complete or any information you deem relevant.

Members, I won't keep you for long. You know that we sometimes receive confidential or anonymous briefs. Confidential briefs are not made public.

Is there agreement to accept them?

[Voices]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

That's great.

We will accept the anonymous briefs if you agree, but we will not publish them.

I forgot to thank our witnesses. Ladies, you've been amazing, and thank you so much. Time is so short. We'll see you soon.

In terms of the schedule for the fall, we have to schedule it now because we're finishing this week.

Do you agree that we should devote our first meeting in the fall to committee business to determine what studies we'll do following the menopause study?

We could then give drafting instructions for the report on the shelter study, then move on to the report on senior women. We have scheduled two meetings to study the report together. The third element is to finish the two missing meetings for the menopause study.

The first meeting will therefore be devoted to committee business to determine our next study. Then we'll look at the report on seniors and, lastly, the menopause study.

Ms. Ménard, you have the floor.