FEWO Committee Report

Dissenting Opinion

Conservative Party

“Improving the Economic Security of Women: Time to Act.”

In May of 2006 the committee undertook a study on the Economic Security of Senior Women. The Conservative Members of the committee were captivated by the compelling testimony of a number of women and groups as to the need for an improvement in the conditions faced by many of the witnesses.

However, there remain a number of issues that are, in the opinion of the Conservative Members, outstanding and beyond the scope of the committee’s mandate. While we can agree in principle with some of the recommendations, there seems to be a standard misunderstanding by opposition members as to the role of the federal government. Many of the issues we heard testimony on fall outside the legislative authority of Parliament as laid out in Section 91 and Section 92 of the Constitution.

For example, the committee recommends the government play a leadership role in improving labour legislation to extend greater protection to non-standard workers. This is a provincial matter and as such is beyond the reasonable scope of federal jurisdiction.

In terms of childcare the main report calls on the government to implement a national system of childcare that is accessible and affordable. Transfer payments are made to the provinces for social services and this recommendation falls outside the jurisdiction of the federal government. Although, Conservative Members did wish to raise the fact that Canada’s New Government has worked to alleviate challenges faced by parents with the implementation of the new Child Tax Credit.

The report is also flawed in that a number of the recommendations touch on areas where the federal government is already taking an active role. For example, the committee recommended that additional funds be allocated to the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities. The government has taken action on this file, but opposition Members refused to acknowledge this. 

On May 24^th, 2007 the Conservative Member for South Shore – St. Margaret’s, announced $49,783 to help provide employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in Nova Scotia. Brian Pallister, the Member of Parliament for Portage – Lisgar, announced $33,208 to help provide supported employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. These are just a few examples of the new initiatives brought forward by the government to provide assistance in this area.

Conservative Members recognize the need for action to improve the economic security of senior women. Unfortunately some members of the opposition have chosen this report as a means to put forward a partisan agenda rather than concrete measures to benefit Canadian women.