Bev Oda

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, this is not a government of just talk and dialogue. We put $5 million more into student apprenticeships in museums. Every museum in Canada is able to access and apply for that program whether they come from Newfoundland and Labrador, the north, B.C. or Prince Edward Island.

This is the government that did not just talk about it. We put the money in the budget. Why did the member and his party vote against that budget?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, advocacy is a practice that any organization, any individual and any citizen in Canada can do and they have elected members of Parliament who should be listening to the women and the citizens. We understand and acknowledge the situation in foreign countries and that is why we are there. We are helping the political system to grow and develop in Afghanistan. We are doing that type of work right around the world.

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, certainly with respect to the immigrant women's associations and visible minority communities, I have spent 30 years in my professional career working with immigrant women, working with ethnic communities to understand what their communications issues are and what their lives are all about.

We are addressing that, but not just through advocacy and listening to just advocates. We are doing it right across this government. That is why we have increased our funding for immigrant settlement homes.

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, the first thing is that we do regard these women as victims and that is why we introduced the 120 day access to the needed health care that they will need and the needed support systems that they will need as well.

We do not see that these women should continually be victimized. They should not be considered criminals. They are the victims and in fact it distresses me that these victims come from many countries around the word but we also have victims of human trafficking here in Canada. Many Canadians are not aware of that and that is why we are taking these kinds of actions.

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, with my colleague, the Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages, we have indicated that we have programs that are helping organizations in the community, students in the community and community centres in the community.

All I can say is that one must look at the work government wide. We are doing it in many departments. Our support for communities is there.

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, as I said, we do have community organizations. The Status of Women program goes directly to community organizations and our volunteer approach is to support organizations that have volunteers who are doing good work in the community.

I do not understand how the member can talk about not helping organizations when the one organization--

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, it may have been the experience of the member opposite that he could talk to a minister and get a commitment for funding immediately but that is not how this government works. As I said, we have programs, clear guidelines and an application process.

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, once again I must point out that we have a proper process. When we took over government we had programs that had no guidelines, had no due process and favoured a political party. We owe it to the Canadian taxpayers to ensure their money is being used responsibly and it is going to the organizations--

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, unlike the previous government, we do have guidelines. We have application forms. We do not respond in days. When one does respond in days, that is how one gets misdirected funds directly to parties to support riding associations. With due diligence, it does require time. We do not respond in five days.

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, I indicated that there are programs with guidelines. Once we receive the application it is reviewed and analyzed by the department and the analysis will come to a conclusion.

I certainly commend the member for his organization submitting an application which will be reviewed as all other proposals are.