Speaking Notes for the Honourable Beverley J. Oda

Speeches
Speaking Notes for the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, P.C., M.P., Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, for an appearance before the Standing Committee on Status of Women
House of Commons
February 1, 2007
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Good afternoon, Madame Chair and committee members. Thank you for the opportunity to be here this afternoon.

I have been following the Committee proceedings and I want to commend you for your hard work. I know you will be studying the economic security of women during this upcoming session and I appreciate your work on this matter, as it is one that we have identified as a challenge facing Canadian women, particularly senior women.

I would also like to thank Ms. Mourani and Ms. Smith for their work on the human trafficking motion before the House of Commons. I know the committee spent a great deal of time investigating human trafficking. While this is an ongoing problem in Canada, we know that statistics from past international events, such as the Olympics, have shown an influx of human trafficking in host countries. With Vancouver Twenty-Ten around the corner, we need to have a system in place to deal effectively with this problem. Your work in this area will have a direct impact in the lives of women as we move forward.

I would first like to thank the officials at Status of Women Canada (SWC) for their hard work. They have done a tremendous job throughout the changes and modernization of Status of Women Canada and the renewal of the Women's Program, which brings me to why I am here.

Since my last appearance before you, there has been a great deal of discussion around the renewed Terms and Conditions of the Women's Program. Advocacy does have a role to play, but Canada's new government believes that now is the time to act. We have the studies; we know there are problems. Instead of wasting more time discussing the issues, our government is looking at tangible ways we can make a difference now.

For example, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs is dealing with matrimonial property rights for Aboriginal women. Our government increased funding to on-reserve family violence shelters by $6 million.

As well, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs announced $450 million for improving water supply and housing on reserve, education outcomes, and socio-economic conditions for Aboriginal women, children and families. Real money, in the hands of organizations that are on the ground working to make a real difference.

In terms of human trafficking, the former Minister of Citizenship and Immigration developed a program to offer victims temporary visas. Human trafficking is on the rise and the majority of those trafficked are women. They are brought to this country and forced into a life of prostitution.

Instead of treating these women as criminals, our government will issue temporary resident permits for up to 120 days and will provide the necessary health care required, free of charge.

As I have mentioned before, women's issues are issues that all Conservative Ministers are concerned with.

The Minister of Human Resources and Social Development announced $4.48 million to help train re-train women who are on social assistance in New Brunswick. This three-year pilot project, Partners Building Futures, will help women on social assistance get the training necessary to find jobs.

As well, the Minister has introduced Bill C-36, legislation that will make it easier for Canadians to access the Guaranteed Income Supplement. The Guaranteed Income Supplement pays out $6.2 billion a year and goes to 1.5 million low-income seniors, most of whom are women. Madame Chair, this is real change that will affect real people where they live.

In one short year, we have:

introduced the Universal Child Care Benefit to help women and their families in their homes;


implemented hospital wait-time guarantees for pre-natal Aboriginal women;


expanded eligibility for compassionate caregivers, most of whom are women;


introduced pension splitting for senior citizens; and


targeted tax cuts, like the GST, textbook credit and credit for families with children involved in physical activity.
Real change, ideas and policies that are making a difference in the lives of Canadian women.

As I come before you today, we are in the midst of one of the most horrendous murder cases in Canadian history. The trial in Vancouver stands as a solemn reminder of the problems the most vulnerable in society face.

This government is committed to action on justice issues. While this high-profile case garners the lions' share of national and international media attention, there are other stories just as heart wrenching.

There stories are in the newspaper every day about repeat offenders. Men who have abused their wives, children or girlfriends. Men who are back on the street, putting lives in danger because law enforcement does not have the necessary tools.

Domestic violence is an issue that this government takes seriously. The Minister of Justice has brought forward tougher legislation. We need effective sentencing when dealing with sexual predators and repeat offenders. We need to end conditional sentencing and raise the age of protection.

If opposition members on this committee want to help women in their communities, I would urge them to go back to their caucus and get their members to vote in favour of these important initiatives.

Canada's new government believes in supporting programs that have a direct impact on women. We believe in putting money into the hands of groups that will help women in their communities.

In October 2005, Canada was cited by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women for failing to adequately address the high rate of violence against Aboriginal women. These women and their children deserve safe communities.

That is why I committed multi-year funding of $1 million a year, through to fiscal year 2010-2011, to the Native Women's Association of Canada. The Sisters in Spirit initiative addresses the high rates of racialized, sexualized violence against Aboriginal women. This project will directly benefit the lives of Aboriginal women in their communities.

There is no simple answer. The economic security of women can be traced back as a root cause of the problems women face on a daily basis. We need to ask how we can work together to alleviate these problems. How we can work with the provinces to provide better services for women? I look forward to the Committee's work on this issue.

When a woman faces domestic violence, what can we do to help them recognize the cycle of abuse? How can we help them to get out of these situations, to find a job, a home, to be self-sustaining? We need to let women know there are other options, enabling them to seize the opportunity to change their lives.

This committee is a wonderful vehicle to provide input to bring forward solutions. As the Minister of Status of Women, I will continue to work toward achieving results for women across this country. I would like to put our partisan political differences aside and work with you, to ensure we are making a difference in the lives of women.

I thank you for your invitation and I look forward to your questions.
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Last Updated: 2007-02-01
Last Reviewed: 2007-02-01 Important Notices

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