Status of Women committee  Similarly with Justice Canada, when gender equality analysis first came into our department back in the 1980s and moving into the 1990s, we had a discrete section in our department whose role was to ensure that gender and diversity issues were considered across the whole of the d

Status of Women committee  That is precisely the position in Justice Canada.

Status of Women committee  In terms of preparing for today, we did not consult with equality groups. The Department of Justice has a very strong working relationship with many NGOs, including equality-seeking groups. We view that kind of consultation as an essential part of good policy development.

Status of Women committee  I would like to add to that from the viewpoint of Justice Canada. We think it's inherent in any sound policy analysis or legal analysis that there's a reflection on the social implications of any policy proposal. So often, of course, social implications speak to gender and to div

Status of Women committee  What I would say in terms of Justice Canada, honourable member, is that if gender is an issue that is part of a subject or an MC or in any policy proposal where gender is relevant, GBA charter analysis is an integral part of the submission that's done.

Status of Women committee  Certainly in Justice we recognize the intersection of gender and gender through various lenses, but we do not track that data. It's part and parcel of our policy analysis, but we do not track it uniquely.

Status of Women committee  Speaking for Justice Canada, I'm quite confident that we have the capacity. I think we have the capacity very much at the ground level, and as Ms. O'Hara was explaining, in the development of any policies there are challenge points, both within departments and across departments,

Status of Women committee  I'm not aware of any areas specifically. I'm speaking, of course, only for our department, but I'm not aware of anything.

Status of Women committee  Speaking for Justice Canada, I can advise you that we have always had a strong partnership with Status of Women on gender issues. I think it's also important to position the Department of Justice insofar as the work we do. We do play a strong interdepartmental role, particularly

Status of Women committee  Sorry, I wasn't sure who your question was directed to.

Status of Women committee  Thank you. In order to answer that question, I need to refer back to my remarks about how in the justice department we have very much an integrated GBA, so it's not part of one particular section of our department. It's not possible to really answer the honourable member's ques

Status of Women committee  I think there are different ways of approaching gender-based analysis. Certainly what we would say is, whichever way is chosen, if it's legislated or if it's part and parcel of what we do, which is how we function in the Department of Justice, we think the focus has to be on outc

Status of Women committee  Speaking for the Department of Justice, because GBA is so closely associated with charter and equality rights as well, it's part and parcel of the work we do. So, again, although we obviously would take any direction from the government, and if the government chooses to legislate

Status of Women committee  Madam Chair, with your approval, rather than taking the time of the committee to read my entire statement, which has been submitted to the committee, perhaps it might be more beneficial if I were to highlight the key points of my statement for a few minutes. In Justice Canada, w

Status of Women committee  Donna Miller, associate deputy minister of Justice Canada.