Debates of Dec. 5th, 2014

Status of Women

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first state for the record that what was just said is absolutely false. In fact, this legislation would, for the first time in Canada, impose mandatory training safety courses. That is a first here in Canada and I am very proud that it is this Conservative government that has brought forward that measure.

Additionally, it is important to note that we are making amendments to the Criminal Code to impose bans, prohibitions on anyone convicted of domestic violence, and that includes up to a lifetime ban, which is extremely important in this country.

I am proud to be part of this Conservative government.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Status of Women said she listens to women, but we have seen no evidence of this.

Women's organizations from across the country have called on the government to take action on violence against women: the YWCA, the Native Women's Association of Canada, the Canadian Teachers' Federation, Plan Canada, and Canadian Council of Muslim Women have all raised their voices to call for a national action plan.

Twenty-five years after the Montreal massacre, will this government come to the table and create a national action plan to end violence against women?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, as I have mentioned in the House already today, the government takes extremely seriously violence against women and girls and condemns these acts.

Whether it be my work with Plan Canada on International Day of the Girl or recent announcements with the YWCA of Canada or whether it was just this last Friday when I did an announcement with the White Ribbon campaign and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, this government is focused on local, community actions to make sure we are improving the areas where we know it is required.

Whether that be supporting victims or making sure we put criminals behind bars, we are focused on actions, as opposed to just the rhetoric and talk across the aisle.

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago, on December 6, 1989, 14 women were killed just because they were women.

As part of our duty to remember these victims of misogyny, we must do better at supporting women who are victims of violence and their families. However, in 2014, 67% of Canadians know a woman—a mother, a daughter or a friend—who has been a victim of violence. This reality is unacceptable.

Will the government work with us to eradicate violence against women in our society?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, any allegations of violence, of harassment, whether it be in a workplace, at home, or otherwise, must be taken extremely seriously. Our government has taken significant action, as I have outlined in this House today, to better protect Canadians, particularly women and girls.

I encourage anyone who has been the victim of any sexual harassment or violence to please step forward and report it to the authorities so that they can take action.

On this side of the House, we are taking action through a number of initiatives. I would encourage the opposition to join us in doing that.

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this is 2014, and 25 years after the Polytechnique massacre, it is clear that the measures the Conservatives have brought in are not enough.

The statistics speak for themselves. In 97% of cases of sexual assault against women in Canada, the aggressors are never convicted. That is right, 97%. Then people wonder why women do not want to report these assaults.

How does the government plan to put an end to this appalling situation and support victims, who are still far too numerous 25 years after the massacre?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, the government is taking significant action to make sure that women and girls are safe. Whether that be our movement forward on cyberbullying and cyberharassment, the victims bill of rights, the focus we have had on punishing criminals, making sure that those who have committed serious crimes no longer have the ability to have a pardon, or better protecting youth and young women, these are things we are focused on.

We are taking action to make sure that those victims of crime are supported and that the individuals who commit these crimes feel the full extent of the law.

Employment

[Anne-Marie Day, NDP, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, work is one way for women to become more independent and therefore less vulnerable. For that to happen, they need access to affordable day care.

Will the Conservatives finally face the facts and offer Canadian women the option of returning to the workforce without having to jeopardize family finances?

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development]

Mr. Speaker, we have introduced the family tax cut. This provides support to every single family with children across the country.

We have increased the universal child care benefit. For young people under age six, it will be increased by $60 a month, or $720 a year. For children aged six to 17, it is also going to be increased to $720.

We are getting the job done for families from one end of this country to the other. We ask the opposition, if they truly care about child care, if they truly care about young families, to please stand up and support this legislation.

Status of Women

[Anne-Marie Day, NDP, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the member sidestepped the question. I was talking about work.

Too many women are struggling with precarious living conditions. A total of 21% of single mothers in Canada are raising their children in extreme poverty. Every day in Canada, more than 3,000 women go to emergency shelters to escape domestic violence. Every night, approximately 200 of them are turned away because there is not enough room.

How can the government leave these women out on the street?

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development]

Mr. Speaker, we are making advances in low-income housing. We are supporting families with tax reductions. We are investing in child education. We are investing in apprenticeships to support young people, young families, and young women to get the education they need to take available jobs in this country.

We are getting the job done, but every one of these initiatives we put forward, the opposition, time after time, votes against. When are they going to stand up, finally, for young people in this country and support them in getting the jobs and training and success they deserve?

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the advances the government is making in low-income housing are actually laughable.

There are higher rates of violence against women and girls in the north. However, 70% of northern and remote communities do not have safe houses or emergency shelters. Yes, 70%. That is unconscionable.

What is the government doing to address the lack of access to emergency resources in these northern and remote communities?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before in this House, violence against women and girls is something the government takes extremely seriously. Whether that be support for shelters on reserve or off, or whether that be support for programming to make sure victims of crime are supported, we are focused on making sure we are taking action today to make sure these victims of crime are supported.

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that there are still far too few shelters and resources for women in the north. Despite the fact that they face a much higher likelihood of violence, women in the north are 10 times more likely to be sexually assaulted. Inuit women and girls are 14 times more likely to experience violence.

All the government has offered are failed initiatives. Why will the government not announce a real action plan, with real measures, to address violence in the north?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times today, there are a number of initiatives this government is taking to make sure women are protected and supported. Whether that be matrimonial property rights on reserve or whether that be the victims bill of rights, we are very focused on making sure the victims of these crimes, as well as women experiencing domestic violence, are supported and are able to transition into new opportunities, as opposed to the opposition, whose focus, actually, has been to vote against some of these actions that I think will truly benefit these women in need.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, prevention is one of the keys to ending violence against women, but a 2013 study from the Canadian Network of Women's Shelters & Transition Houses found that many prevention initiatives are short term and short lived, and a special committee report on violence against indigenous women found that first nations, Inuit, and Métis people lack access to prevention programs.

What actions are the Conservatives taking to improve prevention programs and increase access to them?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of initiatives we have already taken that the opposition has not supported. Whether that be matrimonial property rights, actually the opportunity for a women to stay in her own home, with her children, because she has the right to be there and be protected in that circumstance, or whether it be the family violence program we supported to make sure they receive the support they need when they are in shelters, which has just been augmented by our new initiative, tabled here in the House of Commons on September 15, to support aboriginal women, we are moving forward to make sure they are well supported, unlike the opposition.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, rates of violence against women are going up, not down. That is the evidence needed that the government's policies are simply not working, especially for indigenous women, who experience rates of violence that are three times higher than they are for non-aboriginal women. Most shockingly, indigenous women and girls are seven times more likely to be killed than non-indigenous women. That is completely unacceptable.

Why will the current government not call a national inquiry and propose a real action plan to end the violence?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, I guess my question would be, why will the opposition not support the action plan we have put in place that would take action today for aboriginal women, as opposed to waiting for several years?

Our focus is making sure that the women who are experiencing these violent crimes receive support, help, and protection today. I would encourage the opposition to join us in doing exactly that. These women deserve all the support of everyone here in this House of Commons.

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister does not seem to understand that their plan is simply not working.

Aboriginal girls and women continue to be victims of violence. Nearly 1,200 of them have gone missing or been murdered. Aboriginal communities are calling for a national inquiry so we can finally take a serious look at this issue.

Will the government finally listen to reason and launch a national public inquiry?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, I guess I would beg to differ with the member of the opposition.

Whether it be the Native Women's Association of Canada, whether it be individual aboriginal Canadian women who have come to speak with me personally, or whether it be the friendship centres across the country, they have endorsed our action plan and have asked others to join us in making sure that we are protecting and supporting aboriginal women.

I would encourage the opposition to please pick up a copy of the plan and read it. It was tabled in the House on September 15. I can tell members that aboriginal women and their families have continued to support this, because we are moving forward to support these Canadians.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the issue is real. In the past few months alone, Winnipeg has experienced a young lady pulled out of the Red River. We have experienced another young lady who was left for dead.

There have been over 1,200 women and girls of aboriginal and first nations heritage murdered or gone missing. The government is not listening. Whether it is aboriginal leadership, whether it is premiers or municipalities, everyone is recognizing the need for a public inquiry.

Why are the Prime Minister and the Conservative government not recognizing the need for a public inquiry?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women]

Mr. Speaker, as has been mentioned in the House before, there have been over 40 studies completed.

I will give members a quote. This is a quote from Bernadette Smith, one of those individuals who has a sister who is missing. She said:

This Action Plan is something that our families have been waiting for. I would like to thank...the Government for their commitment to addressing this issue.... We've had numerous studies on this issue and the time for action is now. We can't stand idly by and talk about this without taking...action. This Action Plan will have a direct impact on families and it will help keep our women and girls safe.

Veterans Affairs

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Mr. Speaker, stories of Conservative neglect of our veterans get worse by the day. Today we learned that Conservatives rewarded Veterans Affairs officials with nearly half a million bucks in bonuses for cutting services. At the same time, they fired almost 1,000 front-line workers who delivered services that our veterans so desperately need, and clawed back money that was supposed to support those who served.

How can the minister stand in the House and defend the perverse practice of rewarding people for denying services to our vets?

[Parm Gill, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we make no apologies for reducing bureaucratic expenses at Veterans Affairs Canada. The opposition wants to increase government bureaucracy. We are increasing front-line support for Canada's veterans. We recently announced eight new front-line mental health clinics for Canadian veterans.

While the NDP defends the unions, along with the Liberals, we are defending Canada's veterans.