House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2011, with 37% of the vote.
Committees of the House February 10th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.
The committee is recommending that the federal government increase funding to the women's program in Status of Women Canada by at least 25% for investments in women's groups and equality seeking organizations.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109 the committee has requested a comprehensive government response.
Crescentwood Community Centre February 7th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Crescentwood Community Club celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Located in the heart of south Winnipeg, Crescentwood Community Club started life in 1945 in a converted railway boxcar. In 1949 a permanent facility was constructed totally by volunteer help. The club was further expanded in 1997, and today looks to even further development. Programs continue to evolve to respond to the changing community needs.
This week's 60th anniversary celebration began with a community tea to acknowledge community builders of the past. The week will continue with a host of celebrations for all members of the family.
An important footnote is that this club was integral to Winnipeg's and Canada's musical life. Crescentwood canteen musicians provided the early stage for future superstars such as Burton Cummings, Randy Bachman, Fred Turner and Neil Young, playing in groups such as the Deverons, the Squires, Pink Plum and the Orfans.
Congratulations to this historic community of--
The Holocaust January 31st, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to pay homage to the Holocaust survivors across Canada.
A week ago we marked the 60th anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau's liberation, where more than two million Jews perished.
Last week's commemoration at the UN was a historic first and Canada helped make it a reality. I would like to thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs for representing Canada at this important event.
I also want to highlight the Raoul Wallenberg Day, powerfully marked in Winnipeg on January 17. Named after a Swedish diplomat who rescued 100,000 Jews from extermination, it shows us the difference that a single person can make, even in a world gone mad.
If Auschwitz was a testament to the evils that mankind can conceive, Raoul Wallenberg's example is the selfless counterstroke to that hatred.
It is important that we follow in Wallenberg's footsteps and ensure that the words “Never Again” shape our present, not merely observe our past.
Foreign Affairs December 7th, 2004
Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to acknowledge the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the United Nations General Assembly this session.
For many years, Canadian voting practices on resolutions pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been lagging behind our balanced policy. This disconnect threatened our credibility as an honest broker in the region. It also placed our practice at odds with our policies.
Today, I would like to acknowledge the important beginning the government made by changing our votes on three unhelpful anti-Israeli resolutions in New York. Conduciveness to peace has to be the yardstick for these resolutions, and merit has to determine our vote.
Again, I congratulate the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs on their leadership to ensure that Canada's foreign policy toward the region is balanced both in word and in implementation.
Violence Against Women December 6th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, today is the 15th anniversary of the massacre at École Polytechnique in Montreal where 14 young women were murdered in a senseless act of brutality. As we also learned so soon after the events of that day, they were targeted because they were women.
My question is for the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Since that terrible event, what has the government done to take action on the matter of violence against women?
Fire Safety November 23rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce members to an organization called Staying Alive Inc. Staying Alive is a non profit, volunteer driven program that promotes fire safety education for children. It is a Winnipeg based initiative started by Shane Ferguson, a local firefighter.
Shane started the program after a terrible house fire cost the life a young girl who decided to hide under the bed to escape the smoke. The family had working smoke alarms in the home but no home escape plan that the child could follow.
Shane and a group of 100 dedicated volunteers have developed an interactive CD-ROM called The Great Escape. It helps children learn what to do at home when the smoke alarm sounds. Staying Alive is now in the process of developing a curriculum so that The Great Escape can be taught in every primary school in Canada.
Congratulations to Shane, Dan Choy, Mitch Dorge and Jeff Derraugh, and the many others for creating such a worthwhile and most important lifesaving program.
Governor General's Literary Award November 18th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I pay tribute to one of my constituents today, Ms. Mariam Toews, who was awarded the Governor General's Literary Award on Tuesday.
Her third published novel, A Complicated Kindness , follows a rebellious teenage girl as she copes with the disappearance of her mother and sister in a fictional Manitoba Mennonite town. Since its release in April, the novel has been a fixture atop the Canadian bestseller list. A Complicated Kindness is receiving acclaim overseas as well. Ms. Toews has recently been awarded the British YoungMinds Book Award, and the movie rights for the novel have been sold to Channel 4 Films.
Ms. Toews' two previous novels have also received accolades: Summer of my Amazing Luck and Boy of Good Breeding , which won the McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award in 1998. In 1999 Ms. Toews won the National Magazine Award Gold Medal for Humour.
On behalf of all Manitobans, and indeed on behalf of all Canadians, I want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Toews.
Supply November 16th, 2004
Mr. Chair, I am pleased to stand this evening to participate in the estimates of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
As the former chair of the National Liberal Women's Caucus and now as chair of the newly formed Standing Committee on the Status of Women, I am particularly interested in the estimates of the status of women area, one of the member portfolios of the Department of Canadian Heritage. I will focus on one particular area in a moment.
However, before I do that I would like to take the opportunity to say a few words about the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.
By creating a Standing Committee on the Status of Women, Parliament has recognized that gender equality is one of the keys to Canada's social and economic success and to effective government. In its upcoming deliberations, the committee will work to advance the cause of women across the Government of Canada with a goal of achieving lasting, measurable and sustainable change. I am hopeful that in my role as chair of the committee and given the make-up of the committee that gender equality and women's human rights will be promoted to become an important part of the government's policy agenda.
In January 2003, when Canada reported on its progress to implement the United Nations convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, the concluding comments of the committee pointed to the situation of aboriginal women in Canada as needing particular focus and particular attention.
This past September, I was pleased to have the opportunity to accompany the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Minister responsible for the Status of Women to the annual meeting of the ministers responsible for the status of women in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Immediately, when I was there, I was struck by the passion that the ministers had to advance equality for women and men in Canada and particularly by their commitment to prevent violence against all women and girls, especially aboriginal girls and women.
In September 2003, the federal-provincial-territorial ministers responsible for the status of women made the situation of aboriginal women both on and off reserve a priority. This year they made prevention of violence against all women, and again particularly aboriginal women, a priority and they agreed to take action to improve access for aboriginal women to programs and services, public education and policy development processes.
We all heard the terrible reports coming from Vancouver and Edmonton of murder and sexual violence against indigenous women. Unfortunately, many aboriginal women, many of whom who have turned in desperation to the sex trade for employment, are disappearing off the streets of some of Canada's major cities. For too long their invisibility in Canadian society and their low economic and social status have allowed them to go unnoticed.
As members are aware, Amnesty International recently released a report entitled “Stolen Sisters: A human rights response to discrimination and violence against Indigenous women in Canada”. It documents the pervasive human rights problem of violence against aboriginal women in Canada. The report paints a grim portrait of grinding poverty, addictions, violence and powerlessness and disenfranchisement in the daily lives of aboriginal women.
What do we really know? Certainly our knowledge remains limited, given the historic invisibility of women and particularly aboriginal women in Canada but a picture is starting to form. We know that aboriginal women run a greater risk of being victims of violence than do other Canadian women. Three times as many aboriginal women report that they have experienced some form of violence perpetrated by their spouse, and aboriginal women run eight times the risk of being killed by their spouse after a separation. That is according to Statistics Canada's 1999 general social survey.
My question for the minister is this. Given the alarmingly high rates of violence against aboriginal women in Canada, how can we ensure that the aboriginal communities on reserve as well as off prosper and grow healthy and that aboriginal women and girls have as bright a future as their non-aboriginal counterparts?
Child Care November 16th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, this past weekend in Winnipeg I attended the Canadian Council on Social Development's conference, Child Care for a Change.
Close to 650 delegates from all corners of the sector representing researchers, policy makers, educators and parents had the opportunity to hear from some of Canada's top experts in the field as well as a number of well-known international experts.
Minister Ken Dryden opened the conference and spoke of the strong commitment of the government to work with the provinces and territories, stakeholders and communities, aboriginal governments and aboriginal communities to realize the vision of a national early learning and child care system. The minister received a standing ovation from the delegates, evidence of the strong support for this important government priority.
The Liberal commitment of over $5 billion over five years is a significant first step toward the national system.
I call on all parties today to work together for the benefit of our children in making this commitment a reality.
Ellen Fairclough November 15th, 2004
Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great Canadian who died over this past weekend, Ellen Louks Fairclough.
Ms. Fairclough became Canada's first female cabinet minister in 1957, assuming the position of secretary of state and proceeding to other portfolios of citizenship and immigration, Indian affairs and postmaster general.
Prior to being elected federally in 1950, Ms. Fairclough was very involved in her community. She served as a Hamilton, Ontario city councillor for five years and held several executive positions in many organizations.
A member of Parliament for 13 years, she averaged 150 speeches a year in the House of Commons on a wide range of issues. She was determined to be more than just a token woman in cabinet. She introduced private bills for equal pay for work of equal value.
Many honours were deservedly bestowed on Ellen Fairclough culminating in that of a Companion of the Order of Canada. She also received the title of Right Honourable by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Governor General's Award in commemoration of the Persons case.