Status of Women committee  This has just begun.

Status of Women committee  We went through a whole planning process in the past year to make sure that the demonstration sites work well. We don't want to simply offer training or answer questions about process. We want the services to be provided in the communities. That is why the planning was somewhat

Status of Women committee  Yes, that is true.

Status of Women committee  There are already data on surgical procedures in this area that are performed in hospitals all over Canada. The Canadian Institute for Health Information has already gathered such statistics from the provinces and territories. We could, therefore, work with that organization to

Status of Women committee  Yes. I can tell you that in 2017, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada adopted a measure that included an obligatory cultural component in all medical programs. That was a big step forward. The Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada is preparing a series o

Status of Women committee  We've been discussing with national indigenous organizations how to approach that, how to approach either research or outreach in a culturally safe way. At our first meeting of the advisory committee, planned for next month, this will be part of our agenda. I've had some prelim

Status of Women committee  We have not issued any specific statement. We have, however, discussed with indigenous women's organizations about providing funding to develop materials for women and for health care partners in order to raise awareness about that issue and also to provide culturally safe guidel

Status of Women committee  I think our main role will be to convene federal, provincial and territorial partners, mainstream health organizations, licensing bodies of medical professions and medical associations in order to be able to collaborate on what will be essentially a series of preventative measure

Status of Women committee  I think the Department of Justice has issued a statement on that issue that indicates they are taking a public health approach. We would definitely work with the Department of Justice in issuing our communications.

Status of Women committee  Again, I'm not from the Department of Justice and I can't speak on their behalf. The Department of Justice has spoken about the criminal acts provisions in the existing legislation in Canada right now that will prevent forced sterilization and protect women. However, I really ca

Status of Women committee  Of the reports that have been written on this issue, I've seen that as a recurring theme. In our department, at this point, we have not fully reviewed or done direct research with respect to this issue. We've read through the reports that have been submitted, and I have heard tha

Status of Women committee  Absolutely. That would be part of cultural safety and humility training, which is also to not exercise judgements that are not based on any cultural understanding and actually listening to the voices of the women themselves.

Status of Women committee  I was just going to say that this was an example of the most recent initiative where we've had dialogue with indigenous women's organizations and other partners. We've actually been meeting and speaking with them separately for several months leading up to this point. We had a

Status of Women committee  I would say that we started really looking at it in a specific way last fall, in 2017. We had been looking at cultural safety and humility, at racism in the health care system, and at the TRC calls to action much prior to that.

Status of Women committee  I think it was more the fact that the practice is being reported to still be occurring today. That was of significant concern to us. Within our department, we no longer run hospitals, outside of two hospitals in Manitoba, and in those hospitals we don't have surgical procedures.