Debates of May 16th, 2007

Canadian Heritage--Main Estimates, 2007-08

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Chair, it is pretty obvious that there has not been a response.

How is the minister's government ensuring that Canada is complying with general recommendation number six from the CEDAW report?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, as I indicated, the government undertakes its responsibilities.

We have combined the sixth and seventh reports on the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, CEDAW, which has been recently submitted to the United Nations.

In fact, we are aware that the ministerial meetings are upcoming. We are also making sure that we are aware of all the other international gatherings that will be coming up.

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

Before giving the floor to the hon. member for Don Valley East, I would like to ask her how she intends to share her time.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Chair, I will be splitting my time with the members for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River and Madawaska—Restigouche, and we will be asking questions for five minutes.

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The member has the first block of five minutes and her two colleagues will each have a block of five minutes.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Chair, in budget 2007 the minister deleted advocacy from the mandate of Status of Women Canada.

Let me remind the minister that if it were not for the women depicted in the Famous Five statue outside this very building, and the advocacy efforts and demands for equality, women would not have the right to vote and she would not be here.

Why has the minister deleted equality from the mandate?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, we have recognized the work of the Famous Five and in fact we are benefiting from the work they did.

I point out to the House that the Famous Five and the many women who followed them that made major steps in making Canada the great country that it is did not do it based on tax dollars.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Chair, could the minister advise if the funding as allocated in budget 2007-08 has been disbursed to the Status of Women and if so, when?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, as you know, there is a process by which moneys are forwarded and the requirements will be met. We are receiving applications now under the new terms and conditions and those applications are being reviewed and approvals and announcements are being made.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Chair, that means no.

Can the minister explain why the new funding guidelines have not yet been posted on her website two months after she announced changes? How can groups apply if they do not know the criteria?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, I will repeat that we are in the final stages of making sure that the guidelines and application forms are going to be available. It will be very soon. In fact, the guidelines and application forms will be available on the website of Status of Women. For the first time they will be accessible.

As I say, that information will be made public imminently.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Chair, I will give her an easy question.

The Yukon Status of Women Council works with local women's organizations and the Yukon Housing Corporation to advocate for housing on behalf of women fleeing abusive relationships. That means women and children now have an option other than returning to their abusers.

Why does the minister think that cutting advocacy programs will further the lot of women's lives in this country?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have to say that we know the difference between advocacy and having supportive organizations that are going to be there for women who are fleeing abusive situations. We are also supporting programs that are going to show them they do have the option of leaving abusive situations.

Advocacy did not make an iota of difference in their lives. Many of them were forced to stay in those situations. Now we have help. They are in the community--

[The Chair, NDP, Bill Blaikie]

The hon. member for Don Valley East.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Chair, from the responses I have received so far, it appears the minister is totally inept. I will ask her a very simple question.

Women from rural and urban communities and all walks of life appearing before the Standing Committee on the Status of Women have stated that programs have to be looked at through a gender lens. GBA was critical research done by Status of Women to help departments be effective in the program delivery.

Why did the minister gut the research capacity of SWC and why are all her cuts detrimental to women?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, the gender based analysis is totally unrelated to research. We have taken action to ensure that gender based analysis will be done in all the departments. We are making sure that the relationship between Status of Women and the departments is going to be enhanced. The coordinator for the Status of Women is meeting with every deputy minister in every department of this government.

[Gary Merasty, Liberal, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Chair, does the minister believe that the residential school experience nearly destroyed aboriginal languages?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, this government recognizes the serious situation of the aboriginal residential schools and that is why we have acted on--

[The Chair, NDP, Bill Blaikie]

The hon. member for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River.

[Gary Merasty, Liberal, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Does the minister know how many aboriginal languages are near extinction?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, there are three that are near extinction. There are over 50 aboriginal languages.

[Gary Merasty, Liberal, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Chair, does the minister understand the impact of the loss of these languages to aboriginal cultures and to Canada's proud cultural traditions?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would make a correction. Out of 50 aboriginal languages, 3 are viable and the rest are endangered. I recognize how important language is to every culture. It not only enables communication but it reflects on the nature of those rich traditions.

[Gary Merasty, Liberal, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Chair, maybe I could repeat that question again. Has the minister actually paid any attention to aboriginal languages in cabinet?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, I am pleased to announce that yes we have. I have met with the leadership of the aboriginal communities and we have confirmed $5 million a year to address aboriginal languages for an extended period, to the year 2013-14.