Status of Women Committee on Sept. 23rd, 2026

[Kelly Tallon Franklin]

Absolutely. First of all, survivors and those who have experienced gender-based violence have been disenfranchised by the thinking that they're not their own experts. If they're still above the grass, they're experts.

The first thing I'd ask that you do is to listen to the plans of survivors, because when the systems have failed and there haven't been supports, survivors will take and put people in their own homes and in their own lives to build back. The survivor community at all levels is very strong. Even though we might kibitz and argue a bit, don't get in the middle of that. It's like family.

There are recommendations for the types of housing. If we could coordinate a national plan—

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

Madam Chair, I can't hear the witness.

[Kelly Tallon Franklin]

If we could have a national plan in which every province had one or two coordinated human trafficking supported houses to start, then we could inter-refer for safety. That means that you would work with the provinces, and the provinces would work with their municipalities.

In order for the funding to flow federally down to the provinces, they need to meet the guidelines that the survivors set for what you need to do. Then, on the coordinated services, there should be no money going to any places or spaces that say they're doing the human trafficking work, unless they meet the standard of training that survivors dictate is necessary. That means not sending them back out on the street to put their kids at risk or cause them to go missing. That includes my indigenous sisters, my sisters and even my brothers who are stuck in this.

We have the solutions. We just need to put them together and get it rolling instead of having more meetings.

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

Thank you.

I'll go to you very briefly, Ms. Hunter.

As you said, many transitional homes are 40 years old—

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

I'm sorry, Ms. Ménard, but your time is up.

That brings us to the end of the second hour of the meeting.

I can see how deeply you care about this issue, dear witnesses. Ms. Hunter and Ms. Tallon Franklin, thank you for taking the time to be here with us. You've helped us better understand this very important issue. I wish you a wonderful evening.

Do my colleagues agree to adjourn the meeting?

Go ahead, Mrs. DeRidder.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Just before we adjourn, I have one thing to say. This is addressed to the committee and the committee only, not to the witnesses or anybody who may be listening in the room.

There were a few unfortunate things I noticed happening today, and I hope we can move together in a very respectful manner.

I was told that I was being disrespectful and taking away time by putting a motion on notice. I do believe that this study is very important. I chose the path of least resistance to do so. Then a motion was put on notice right after that. To already try to say that I'm going with hate here.... I'm putting it on the record right now, today, that these motions have nothing to do with hate and everything to do with women.

I'll leave it at that.

[Marilyn Gladu, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

I move to adjourn.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

Does everyone agree to adjourn the meeting?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dominique Vien]

The meeting is adjourned.