Irene Mathyssen

[Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, June 5th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her statements. I find it passing strange that the Conservatives are busy masquerading as those who are concerned about the inequality and vulnerability of women at the same time as they have changed Status of Women Canada so that research, lobbying and advocacy are no longer permitted. That clearly is undermining women and women's equality.

However, my question arises from the report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, entitled “Turning Outrage into Action to Address Trafficking for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation in Canada”. I want to ask the member for her sense of a couple of recommendations, the first, of course, being that the committee recommended that “the federal government develop a national framework to address poverty in Canada”. Certainly we have not seen that.

More importantly, the committee recommended that “Citizenship and Immigration Canada increase access to and information on migration channels in order to increase women's ability to migrate independently and safely”. In other words, the recommendation was to bring down those barriers that prohibit women from coming into this country to seek the kind of employment that is safe and provides them with a quality of life.

I would be most interested in the member's response.

[Manufacturing Industry, May 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, today men and women from across Canada have come to Ottawa to tell their government that we are in a manufacturing crisis. We are losing good jobs, jobs with decent pay and benefits, at an alarming rate and women bear the brunt of this crisis.

With diminishing jobs with benefits and more jobs without, women struggle to maintain a work family balance. Instead of making life easier for ordinary families, the government persists in denying women access to employment insurance, adequate maternity and parental leave, a national affordable housing program, affordable regulated child care, and access to training so women do not end up in minimum wage or dead end jobs without benefits.

The crisis is here and now. We need an industrial manufacturing strategy to keep good jobs in Canada. We need benefits for families to ensure a healthy work family balance. It is long past time for government to act.

[Petitions, May 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from the good citizens of London—Fanshawe who are concerned about record bank profits of over $19 billion by the six banks.

Unlike other countries, customers in Canada are faced with fees when they deposit, withdraw or transfer their own money using automated teller machines.

The NDP has proposed legislation that would eliminate ATM fees and my constituents call upon the government to pass this legislation and eliminate such fees.

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

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?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, I would like to know if the minister's department submitted Canada's response to the UN's CEDAW recommendations. If not, why not? They were due in February. When can we expect a response?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, it has been thoroughly discredited. I wonder if the minister would then bring forward proactive pay equity legislation.

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, the Pay Equity Task Force reported that the complaints-based system does not work. The measures that the government is currently using have been discredited.

Does the minister believe that women deserve equal pay for work of equal value?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, this is my time and my opportunity to ask questions. I determine what is relevant and what is not.

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, it would have been nice at this time if women had been invited. I would like to know why the pay equity task force report that said that the complaints-based system does not work and that the measures that the government is currently using have been--

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, women's group after women's group, individual after individual, has come to the committee on the Status of Women and indicated that there was no consultation, no analysis of the effects of these closures, and no analysis of the change to the mandate. That is simply not accountable. The government promised accountability. Why is the minister playing politics with women's equality?