Debates of May 16th, 2007

Canadian Heritage--Main Estimates, 2007-08

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, as I have said, this government does not just talk about rights but makes sure that we act on those rights. We make sure that we deliver those rights to women. The previous government did nothing about matrimonial property rights for aboriginal women. Women's rights under the charter were not implemented for aboriginal women. Women's rights are going to be always--

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. member for Laurentides—Labelle.

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Chair, with regard to the court challenges program, although the Prime Minister said this afternoon that he preferred providing people with direct assistance to hiring lawyers, how can the minister justify that federal agencies like Canada Post have been fighting in court for years, at taxpayers' expense, to evade their pay equity obligations?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, first of all, the court challenges program is before the court, so it is inappropriate for me to comment.

This government has a responsibility to make sure that the legislation we put forward for consideration in this House respects everyone's rights equally and that women are considered in the development of the programs in that legislation. We are acting on enforcing and implementing good legislation that is going to give opportunities to both men and women.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Mr. Chair, if the minister feels that women's rights groups are playing an important role and taking real action, what does she plan to do to support them properly?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, as I have indicated, we listen to all of our constituents, men and women. It is our job to make sure that whatever policies and legislation we put forward address the needs of Canadian men and women.

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Chair, the Conservatives take great pride in having increased the women's program budget. But the fact is that they did so by reducing women's access to Status of Women Canada offices and reducing direct assistance in the regions by closing 12 regional offices, including the office in Quebec City.

In light of your decision to slash $5 million in administrative funding for Status of Women Canada, how can closing 12 Status of Women Canada offices help women raise awareness of the reality in their community?

Do you really believe that the central offices will know enough about what is going on in the different regions of the country to take appropriate actions to help women?

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. member for Laurentides—Labelle should know that when she addresses the minister, she should refer to her in the third person and not in the second person.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, as I have said before, this government wants to ensure that we are giving direct help to women. This government does not maintain offices for the sake of maintaining offices. We do not maintain expenses in administration. We try to find efficiencies in streamlining. We have found those.

We are delivering more programs to women in their communities that are going to directly make a difference in their daily lives. These are women who live in poverty. These are single parents. These are women trying to get ahead in the workforce. These are senior women who are finding themselves with low income and at the poverty level.

These challenges had been going on for many years under the previous government and we are doing something about them.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Mr. Chair, the closure of the offices of Status of Women Canada and the layoff of 68 public servants is worrisome for immigrant women's groups because her managers could, in certain cases, convey the interests of immigrant women to other departments.

How will this work be done now that it is no longer possible to have direct contact with these groups in their communities?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have two things. When I meet the women who are going to benefit from the programs and proposals put forward, they thank us and say it will make a difference in their lives and the lives of their children. I experienced that just this past weekend in Saint John, New Brunswick.

We do not leave it to just one entity or agency of government. When we discuss any policy, program or legislation as a caucus or cabinet, we are always asking the question about how--

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. member for Laurentides—Labelle.

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Chair, I will be brief.

I would like to know the minister's priorities for next year with regard to the status of women.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, I am very pleased to say that we have established two programs: the women's community fund and the women's partnership fund. These programs will be fully up and implemented as soon as possible. We also have an additional $5 million in this year's budget that will go toward helping women in the next year.

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. member for Laurentides—Labelle has asked a short question that required a long answer.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

That is not our problem.

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. member for Laval.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Mr. Chair, I cannot believe these answers. I am very angry and offended. It is shameful.

For months, witnesses have been appearing before the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. These witnesses have told us how angry they are with the cuts to programs and subsidies as well as changes in programs. This evening, we are told that, since one group is happy, everything is all for the best in the best of all worlds. It is about time that the minister take her head out of the sand and start looking at real people. It is not just about Real Women, it is about real people. She should get her head out of the sand. Just because she is the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women does not mean that she has all the answers.

I would like to know if the minister intends to ask her government to change the live-in caregiver program because these individuals are living in abominable conditions and cannot take it any more. The last time she was questioned about this her answers did not make any sense. Does she intend to change the program?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, we have put forward programs that say that community organizations that work with women and know of the needs of women in their communities are free to come forward to make proposals to the Status of Women. We have now increased by $10 million the money that will be available to those organizations.

I too have spoken to the associations that are no longer being funded to advocate and lobby government, but this is working directly for women in the communities. We are working with the organizations that for years have been working diligently every day to help women in their communities.

I have been to Edmonton and Toronto, and talked to women who are now benefiting from our new women's community program. This program is able to enhance the job being done for women in their neighbourhoods.

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the employment insurance issue is very important to me. This deals a direct blow to women in my riding, across Quebec and also in Canada.

Part-time work, seasonal work, casual work, home-based work, all these are the reality facing women every day. And the EI fund—in which the government does not invest one cent, but from which it takes surpluses of billion of dollars—does not deal with this reality at all.

Knowing that the system discriminates against women, will the minister dare to show some courage with her fellow ministers and ask them to give a royal recommendation to Bill C-269?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, as a member of cabinet I know of the discussions that are happening regarding employment insurance and that the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development has been working diligently to make sure that program is going to benefit all part time workers in Canada. We realize the situation they are in. That program needs to be enhanced and we are working to make sure it is going to be helpful and applicable to all members of Canadian society.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, aboriginal women in Quebec lament the lack of core funding for shelters for aboriginal women. The Conservative government continues to hold the funding of these shelters at approximately 30% of the average grants for Quebec's shelters.

Does the minister plan to make up this difference of almost $337,000 compared to other shelters in Quebec and ensure recurrent funding, or does she prefer to lower the standards by giving us the example of funding in other provinces?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chairman, I am very proud to work with our Minister of Indian Affairs because he has come forward and ensured that these women living on reserves will now have matrimonial property rights.

He has also increased the funding for on reserve family violence shelters by $6 million. I know that our Minister of Human Resources and Social Development has increased family employment and settlement housing needs. We are working with not just one agency so that every other minister is relieved of his or her responsibility to women in Canada but we work together as a team.

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. member for Laurentides—Labelle should know that there is one minute and a half for both the question and the answer.

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Chair, if women have truly achieved equality, as the Conservative government suggests, the minister needs to know that twice as many women as men continue to live in poverty.

Does the minister realize that young women have to give up plans to save for retirement because they are juggling career and family responsibilities?

Does the minister believe that Quebec's low-cost child care system provides direct assistance to women and that it is much more efficient than her government's $100 per month taxable allowance?