Committee
Consult the user guide
For assistance, please contact us
Consult the user guide
For assistance, please contact us
Add search criteria
Results: 76 - 90 of 139
Taryn Russell
View Taryn Russell Profile
Taryn Russell
2020-12-03 17:24
I can start, and then I'll let UNICEF jump in as well.
That's been one of the most concerning things we've seen. There's a real threat of rolling back some really good progress that we've made globally on gender equality. The combination of increasing rates of poverty and the closures of schools has put girls in a really vulnerable position.
We've seen rates of gender-based violence or domestic violence increasing. We've seen girls at increased risk of early and child marriage in many contexts. For example, in Cox's Bazar, we've had reports coming in that child marriage rates are increasing. That also leads to early pregnancy. It's all connected. We know that when girls are too young to get pregnant, they are at really high risk of death as well as health complications.
This is one area where we're really stressing that we need to be scaling up our efforts to ensure that we don't roll back on the progress made. That means getting girls back into school and it means our health programming and stand-alone gender equality programs not falling off because of COVID measures.
View Heather McPherson Profile
NDP (AB)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much to both of our witnesses. This has been very interesting. I have the pleasure of going fourth, so many of my questions have already been addressed.
I'm going to focus a little on what my colleague from the Bloc Québécois has brought forward in terms of the impacts that COVID-19 has had on women.
Ms. Hicks, you were very eloquent when you spoke about those impacts, about the violence, the failure of women to be able to go back to work, the burden of house care and child care. What I'm interested in is how you would predict or how you would see Canada doing a better job, improving our role in addressing this, both domestically and internationally, because as my colleague Mr. Bergeron mentioned, this is not something that happens elsewhere; this is something that also happens in Canada. Could you comment on that?
Ms. Triggs, if you wouldn't mind, I might get you to comment on that as well.
Peggy Hicks
View Peggy Hicks Profile
Peggy Hicks
2020-11-26 16:07
Thank you for the opportunity.
I do think this is an area where more attention has been paid, but there's never enough engagement on these issues. Therefore, it is really important that we look at what's happening and try to outline clearly what types of responses are effective.
One of the things we've emphasized is that when there is a crisis such as this, we know there is a need immediately for more referral services and more access for people for shelter. People need other options even in the midst of a pandemic, and I think we were somewhat slow to roll those out and to recognize that need. Both in Canada and through Canada's support elsewhere, those types of solutions are very important.
As we've also seen, and this has been well documented, women's access to health care during the pandemic has been greatly diminished. For example, women have not been able to easily access sexual and reproductive health and care, which has an enormous impact on their lives as well. Emphasis in that area is a second piece that I would urge Canada and other governments to look at.
Gillian Triggs
View Gillian Triggs Profile
Gillian Triggs
2020-11-26 16:08
Thank you very much.
I think the question of gender-based violence in the context of COVID has really been one of the most disturbing impacts of COVID, because it has existed, of course, as we all know, in all our societies, but COVID has shone a light on this and expanded our understanding. However, also, the lockdowns have increased family tensions and we've seen an exacerbation of an existing situation.
What do we do about it? Perhaps before I mention what one might do, one thing that has been so interesting is that within weeks of COVID we were getting reports from our call centres in many parts of the world, but particularly Africa and Latin America, where in one instance we were getting 10 times the number of calls on gender-based violence in these countries. It has been true all over the world. It's not particular.
It's a very worrying phenomenon. What do we do? At UNHCR, one of the things we're doing is developing call centres. We're massively or very significantly increasing call centres to give greater access to women to call in. We can then provide mechanisms for getting out to legal advice, to health centres, to psychosocial support where necessary and to other social services. We think that's one way of achieving it in the context of a COVID that continues.
As Peggy said, people need options, shelters, but perhaps what it comes down to ultimately is greater funding and stronger advocacy to ensure that this funding is in place, not just as a temporary measure but something that becomes a significant feature of the social safety net of all systems and includes women in the environment of a pandemic. This won't be the last pandemic. There will be others, and this is a continuing and societal problem.
View Jag Sahota Profile
CPC (AB)
Thank you, Minister, for being here, and thank you for that presentation.
You spoke about gender-based violence. In 2017 the government announced a national strategy on gender-based violence. The Liberal election platform in 2019 said that a Liberal government would develop a national action plan.
In a recent briefing provided to me by your department, the officials mentioned that stakeholders have been calling on the government to develop a national action plan, yet the department was still evaluating how to develop one.
Minister, we're coming to the end of 2020. When can we expect the national action plan so that we can start addressing this issue?
View Maryam Monsef Profile
Lib. (ON)
Your question is an important one.
When we launched the federal strategy in 2017, it was the first time that the Government of Canada had brought the various efforts it was undertaking under one umbrella. It started to coordinate amongst different departments, but also with provinces and territories, who, frankly, at the time were leaps and bounds ahead of the federal government in what they were doing.
In the five years we've been in office, we've been able to provide historic funding to women's organizations. We've reopened shuttered women's organization support centres across the country.
The federal strategy did three things. It provided supports for survivors and their families. It invested in prevention efforts. It also put forward ways in which our justice systems could be more responsive to victims and survivors. A lot of progress has been made, for example, in clarifying the definition of consent and in building capacity for front-line organizations.
The national action plan takes that work one step further. We are, as you so rightly mentioned, in the process of working out in the middle of COVID what the best ways forward would be.
You can rest assured that supports for survivors and their families will continue to be number one.
View Anju Dhillon Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you, Minister, for being here. Since there's a lack of time, I will quickly get to it.
Gender-based violence is a horrendous reality in all communities across Canada. There's social harm related to it, not just in a social way but in an economic way. Our government developed the national action plan on gender-based violence. Would you please give us a quick update on the development of this plan?
Thank you so much.
View Maryam Monsef Profile
Lib. (ON)
You are right, MP Dhillon. The scars that are caused by gender-based violence, including sexual violence, never fully heal. The best we can do is be there for those who experience it and do what survivors have asked us to do, which is work to prevent these violations from happening to others. Since the pandemic began, we have not only responded with emergency supports, but we've also engaged in hundreds of conversations with experts who are providing us with necessary feedback to shape the national action plan.
I'm happy, Madam Chair, to keep this committee in the loop with that information on the progress we're making.
View Andréanne Larouche Profile
BQ (QC)
Good morning, Madam Minister, and thank you very much for being with us today.
I find this symbolic, all the more so because tomorrow we begin 12 days of action on violence against women. It lasts until December 6, a key date to be particularly commemorated in Quebec because it's the anniversary of the Polytechnique femicides.
You have just paved the way, and I had already asked you the question in the summer when we studied the issue. Violence against women has worsened during the pandemic. I feel this is a good opportunity to introduce the action plan on violence against women. I asked you about it this summer and my colleague also asked you earlier.
Do we have a date? Do we know when the plan is going to be rolled out?
Since you just began working to update the action plan, could you give me a few of the measures we are likely to see included in it?
View Maryam Monsef Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you, Ms. Larouche.
I'm pleased to say that at that federal-provincial-territorial table, colleagues, despite our differences, we are united in a belief that we need to do more, that we can do more and that all Canadians expect us to do just that.
You're absolutely right. The 16 days of activism to address and prevent violence against women are upon us, this year with a particularly sombre tone as we're not able to come together on December 6 in vigils to light candles and to lay roses as we would have in previous years.
This year is particularly important, as I said, because December 6 and all the sadness that it comes with is followed by December 7, the 50th anniversary of the tabling of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada report in the House of Commons, which was the beginning of a series of significant gains for women and gender-diverse peoples.
In terms of where we are with the national action plan, we have been connecting with labour groups and with indigenous leaders. Later today I'm meeting with disability activists and folks, themselves, with disabilities and exceptionalities. We have reached out to rural communities. My brilliant parliamentary secretary, Gudie Hutchings, has been working with the justice system, with police services across the country and with victim support services.
The reason we are having these very methodical conversations almost at the community level, including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities as well as provinces and territories, is that Ottawa will come up with a plan based on what we hear from experts and survivors on the ground. However, it will be up to communities to implement that plan.
We need to ensure two things: first, that the national action plan is reinforced and working in parallel with the response to the calls for justice around the MMIWG inquiry; and second, that we understand what communities need in order to be able to implement their own community safety plans. We are, of course, working very closely with Quebec and other provinces and territories to make sure that they are on board and to make sure that the framework that we've put in place meets their realities.
Again, the process is methodical and careful, but there's a recognition across the country that we have to move with urgency.
View Andréanne Larouche Profile
BQ (QC)
Oh, I was happy.
Ms. Monsef, you mentioned that you were currently meeting with indigenous leaders for your action plan. I'd like to know how the national action plan you are introducing will address the calls for justice that came out of the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and also the calls for action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
How will your meeting with indigenous leaders fit into your national plan?
View Maryam Monsef Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you, Ms. Larouche.
It's critical that the two work hand in hand. Minister Bennett has been leading our government's efforts. Over the past several months, she has brought together, per province and per territory, survivors, their families, experts and leaders to ensure that their responses are taken into account in the development of the action plan.
We are, first and foremost, ensuring that we commemorate and remember the stories of those missing and those who are gone. There are about 100 projects across the country commemorating our stolen sisters.
Second, we've heard “nothing for us without us” from indigenous leaders and representatives, so they are at the table. They're at the table on the gender-based violence advisory council, which advises me. They are at the table when we gather for federal, provincial and territorial annual meetings. Also, of course, much of what they share around prevention, support for survivors and a responsive justice system is taken into consideration, both with the calls for justice and the national action plan. You've also seen, in our COVID response, additional supports for shelters on reserve and off reserve, as one example.
View Gudie Hutchings Profile
Lib. (NL)
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Minister, it's always great to see you. Thank you for acknowledging the important work that this committee does for all women.
Minister, I want to talk about a specific form of gender-based violence: sexual violence. It was three years ago when the #MeToo movement sparked real change around the world. Women from all walks of life came forward with their experiences of sexual violence. Many of us saw friends and celebrities identifying themselves as survivors of sexual violence. Soon after that came #MeToo, #TimesUp, and before that there was #BeenRapedNeverReported.
Minister, can you speak specifically to how Canada has reacted and taken positive steps to end this terrible form of gender-based violence and to end gender-based violence in all forms?
View Maryam Monsef Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you, MP Hutchings. It's truly a privilege to get to work with you on this file, as well as the connectivity file.
I'm always mindful, when we're talking about sexual violence, if the room is filled with more than three women, chances are somebody in the room has experienced sexual violence. I recognize that.
To those who are listening, if you are experiencing sexual violence or domestic violence, know that you are not alone. Know that there are thousands of organizations across the country whose doors are open. Talk to someone you trust. Reach out to them. They'll make sure that you and your loved ones are safe, even during this pandemic.
As you mentioned, MP Hutchings, it takes a certain level of courage to say “me too”. It takes a certain level of courage to put yourself out there with the stigma and the vulnerability that unfortunately comes with that kind of disclosure, but what those silence-breakers did was give courage to other survivors, and it give courage to decision-makers to accelerate the pace of change.
We were able to review tens of thousands of unfounded cases of sexual assault, where those few who actually came forward to report but weren't believed had the opportunity to have their cases reassessed. We were able to hear from front lines that every time one of these hashtags comes out, the demand for their services goes up. We were able to deploy dollars very quickly so that they could keep their doors open, keep their institutions and organizations safe and keep their staff paid.
We were also able to work with our partners to develop a framework for safety on campuses. You know, 41% of sexual assault cases in Canada are reported by those in post-secondary institutions. We also heard from men and boys who want to, and can, play a really important role in not just being a bystander, but addressing some of the harmful attitudes and behaviours that lead to rape and sexual assault and the trauma that follows. We've been able to work with dozens of organizations across the country, not only working to heal men, but also supporting men who are working with other men to address those problematic attitudes.
The issues of sexual violence and gender-based violence will not be solved easily. It will take generations of work, and that's the kind of work that I know this committee and this Parliament, and of course our government, are committed to continuing.
View Andréanne Larouche Profile
BQ (QC)
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'd like to come back to the gender-based violence issue. The 2020-21 main estimates provide transfer payments of approximately $13.5 million for Women and Gender Equality Canada's gender-based violence program.
What types of projects would be likely to receive grants and contributions under the gender-based violence program?
Results: 76 - 90 of 139 | Page: 6 of 10

|<
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
>
>|
Export As: XML CSV RSS

For more data options, please see Open Data