Minister for Women and Gender Equality's appearance at the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (July 7, 2020)
The Deputy Minister was also present and received the binder for this parliamentary committee appearance.
Opening remarks
Madam Chair,
Thank you for inviting me to join you today.
First, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin people.
I am here with you today to discuss the recent work undertaken by Women and Gender Equality Canada or WAGE.
Since March, the Government of Canada had to take strong actions to protect our economy, as well as the health, safety, and jobs of Canadians. Since the beginning of the COVID‑19 pandemic, the Government of Canada did what it had to do to support our country's most vulnerable people.
Impacts of COVID-19
As a virus, COVID-19 does not discriminate who it infects, and yet, its impacts are felt differently and more severely by different groups. These groups happen to be Canada's most vulnerable and so the virus has magnified inequalities experienced long before it took hold in Canada.
The economic, health, and social impacts of COVID-19 are being felt most severely among women in Canada, and in particular, racialized, newcomer, and immigrant women, women with disabilities, women living in poverty, single women, and women who are experiencing gender-based violence.
Madam Chair, because of the disproportionate economic effects COVID-19 is having on women, economists are calling this a "she-cession". According to Statistics Canada, in March 2020, women made up the majority (63%) of all employment losses, experiencing job losses at twice the rate of men. Women are over-represented in workplaces hard hit by COVID-19 in the early stages of the pandemic. We're talking about accommodation, food services, and educational services, just to name a few. And these are women that were doing important work, essential work, for low wages. They are too often racialized women and newcomers to Canada.
Employment began to rise in May 2020 as we eased public health restrictions, but women didn't benefit to the same extent as men. Employment increased more than twice as fast among men (2.4% or 206,100 jobs among men versus 1.1% or 83,600 jobs among women).
Women have taken on even more unpaid care responsibilities for their children and sick or elderly relatives. They are the majority of those working on the frontlines of the crisis: personal support workers, childcare workers, food sector workers, nurses and other health and social care workers.
Furthermore, COVID-19 created a shadow pandemic by exacerbating the issue of gender-based violence.
Many of our partners on the frontlines told us that the rates and severity of the violence have increased. Gender-based violence is not caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but our partners also told us that, as a result of the isolation measures, many women were and may still be unable to seek help or are unaware that help is available. Places women might normally turn to may be closed or less accessible; places such as extended family, faith-based organisations, and community centres. Isolation has created a terrifying situation for some people living with abuse.
Women's shelters and sexual assault centres across the country needed support to be able to continue to assist those in need and to be able to have measures in place to prevent or manage a potential outbreak.
COVID-19 Response
Therefore, as part of the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Government of Canada announced up to $40 million to be delivered through WAGE for women and children fleeing gender-based violence.
To ensure that this funding is distributed to the right organizations as quickly and effectively as possible, WAGE has worked closely with provincial and territorial counterparts and stakeholders across the country since the onset of the pandemic. They too recognize the urgency to support these women and children in all the regions of the country. Together, they identified priorities for this funding to support organizations providing critical services and supports to women experiencing violence during the pandemic.
And I'm pleased to say that to date, $30 million of this funding has addressed the immediate needs of nearly 700 women's shelters and sexual assault centres from coast to coast to coast.
And now, through the 2020‑21 Supplementary Estimates (A), WAGE will receive $10 million in Grants and Contributions funding. This represents the remainder of the previously announced $40 million funding. It is anticipated that approximately 350 additional organizations will benefit from this funding, which brings the total support to over 1,000 shelters, sexual assault centres and other organizations working in the gender-based violence sector.
Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+)
Creating good policies requires us to consider who is impacted, how they are impacted, and how our response measures can be tailored to different groups of people. That's why we apply a gender and intersectional analysis, GBA+, to all we do.
Canadians expect to see themselves in the policies and programs the Government of Canada implements. Doing this analysis early on in the process as we design our policies and programs ensures that all aspects of diversity are considered and that we are delivering on the Government of Canada's commitment to inclusiveness and to service to the public.
And I can assure you that, in the context of COVID-19, the Government is applying GBA+, not only to better understand differential impacts, but to shape the actions that need to be taken to reduce inequalities. The Government has used GBA+ to ensure we are responsive to the specific needs and circumstances of all people in Canada, and will continue to do so, both in the context of the emergency response and recovery efforts.
Closing
Madam Chair, in the weeks and months ahead, the Government of Canada will continue to build on its efforts to alleviate the difficulties experienced by vulnerable people during this pandemic.
I hope to continue our excellent collaboration and to carry on benefiting from your recommendations to build on all the work accomplished so far to help Canadians get through these unprecedented times.
Thank you.
Issue: Gendered impacts of COVID-19
Recommended response
Gendered Impacts:
- COVID-19 does not discriminate who it infects, yet different groups are disproportionately affected by the virus and the public health measures being implemented.
- Women lost jobs in March 2020 at twice the rate of men, and in May 2020, when the economy started to reopen, increases in employment for men were double that of women.
- Compounding this issue is the closure of schools and daycare centers, affecting many women's ability to participate in the labour force.
- People in Canada have been asked to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, yet home is not a safe place for everyone. We have seen a "shadow pandemic" emerge for those isolated at home with their abusers.
- Indigenous women, recent immigrant women, female lone parents, senior women, and LGBTQ2 people are disproportionately impacted by poverty and face core housing needs.
Government of Canada Response to COVID:
- Through the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Government of Canada has announced a number of initiatives to support those most impacted, such as:
- Essential food support with $100 million to organizations across Canada to purchase, transport and distribute food and other basic necessities.
- $157.5 million to the Reaching Home initiative to address the needs of Canadians experiencing homelessness.
- $305 million for a new distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund to address food insecurity, educational and other support for children, mental health assistance and preparedness measures for COVID-19.
- Additional assistance to families with children by temporarily boosting Canada Child Benefit payments, delivering almost $2 billion in extra support.
- Up to $50 million is being provided to over 800 organizations to respond to the pandemic, allowing thousands of women and children to benefit from the continuation and timely adaptation of essential services and supports.
Background
- The Department of Women and Gender Equality has established a Task Team dedicated to examining the various impacts of COVID-19 on different populations and to create resources and tools for applying a Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) lens in the development of policy and program responses across the Government of Canada.
Gendered impact on employment
- In Canada, women comprise the majority of workers employed in service industries, which experienced and continue to experience large employment declines in response to COVID-19.
- Women comprised the vast majority (62.6%) of all employment losses in March 2020; the monthly decline in employment among immigrant women was twice that of immigrant men.
- Job losses for men and women converged in April as additional shutdowns spread to construction and manufacturing, however, in May, employment increased more than twice as fast among men than women. This is likely due to the more rapid increase in goods-producing industries, which account for a greater proportion of male employment.
- Though both women and men have reported spending extra time on child care and household tasks during the pandemic, some research suggests that women continue to shoulder a greater share of these responsibilities. A recent survey revealed that half (50%) of women respondents reported that they have taken on the increased amount of time spent on unpaid domestic and childcare work during the pandemic, compared to 16% of men who reported the same. This could impact their availability to participate in the labour force.
- Women are also over-represented in low-income occupations that have been deemed as essential and are disproportionately exposed to COVID-19.
- In 2018, women comprised the majority of registered nurses (92%), nurse practitioners (93%), and licensed practical nurses (91%).
Response Measures
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) provides a tax-free benefit of $2,000 a month to workers who lose their income as of result of the pandemic. It also allows people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB.
- As of June 7, more than 8.4 million Canadians have applied for CERB, receiving a total of $44.6 billion. Many Canadians have reported that the benefit is allowing them to cover basics such as housing, groceries, transportation and medicine.
- Additional assistance to families with children by temporarily boosting Canada Child Benefit payments, delivering almost $2 billion in extra support.
- Approximately 3.7 million Canadian families collect the Canada Child Benefit. In the COVID-19 context, approximately 50,000 families who do not normally qualify for the Canada Child Care Benefit will receive a payment.
- Additional assistance to individuals with low and modest incomes with a top-up payment under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit, delivering $5.5 billion in support.
- This is estimated to benefit over 12 million low- and modest-income Canadian families.
- Extra time to file income tax returns until June 1, 2020, and new income tax balances are deferred until after August 31, 2020. Mortgage deferrals for Canadians impacted by COVID-19 and experiencing financial hardship.
- As of April 2020, nearly half a million Canadians postponed their mortgages.
- It is estimated that the deferrals approved thus far are leaving approximately $633 million per month in homeowners' pockets.
- Up to $3 billion to the provinces and territories to increase the wages of low-income essential workers in the fight against COVID-19.
- A proposed $14 billion Safe Restart Agreement between federal and provincial governments to support Canadians by supplying more PPE, child care, transportation, and immediate assistance for vulnerable populations, etc.
Gender-based violence
- Many support services are reporting increased demand for services regarding intimate partner violence and child maltreatment. Others have seen a significant decrease, raising concerns that women and children aren't able to reach out for help or don't know these services are available.
- The Vancouver's Battered Women's Support Services (BWSS), for example, have seen a 400% increase in calls since mid-March.
- With the increase in time spent online for school, work, socialization, etc., Canadians, especially young women and children, are at a greater risk of technology-facilitated violence; there are reports of increases in online child sexual exploitation during the crisis.
GBV response measures
- Support for women and children fleeing violence, by providing up to $50 million to women's shelters and sexual assault centres, including facilities in Indigenous communities, to help with their capacity to manage or prevent an outbreak in their facilities.
- Through this investment, over 800 organizations providing critical gender-based violence services and supports, such as women's shelters and sexual assault organizations, have received funding.
- The Emergency Community Support Fund will provide $350 million to support vulnerable Canadians through charities and non-profit organizations that deliver essential services to those in need.
Other gendered impacts
Indigenous women, recent immigrant women, female lone parents, senior women, and LGBTQ2 people are disproportionately impacted by poverty and face core housing needs. Mental health, especially of more vulnerable communities, is of concern during a time of physical distancing and isolation.
Response measures
- Essential food support with $100 million to organizations across Canada to purchase, transport and distribute food and other basic necessities.
- Community-based recipients have flexibility to use funding through the New Horizons for Seniors Program for expenditures in response to COVID-19.
- $157.5 million to the Reaching Home initiative to address the needs of Canadians experiencing homelessness.
- $305 million for a new distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund to address food insecurity, educational and other support for children, mental health assistance and preparedness measures for COVID-19.
- $75 million in new funding for Indigenous organizations providing services to Indigenous peoples in urban centres and off reserve.
Issue: COVID-19 funding for women's shelters, and sexual assault centres
Recommended response
- The Government of Canada is taking strong and quick action to protect our economy, and the health, safety, and jobs of all Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Canadians have been urged to stay at home during this time. However, home is not a safe place for everyone. It is not a safe place for women or their children, who experience domestic or intimate partner violence. For them, being confined at home, isolated, in close contact with a violent partner can be a terrifying prospect.
- This is why the Government is providing up to $50 million to organizations, such as violence against women shelters and sexual assault centres, including funding for facilities in Indigenous communities.
- I am pleased to announce that, thanks to the work of our partners at Women's Shelter Canada, the Canadian Women's Foundation, and the Government of Quebec, the majority of these much needed resources have already flowed to over 800 organizations across the country.
- This funding ensures the continuity and sustainability of services provided by these organizations, supporting their efforts to adjust to the evolving needs of survivors, while facing sudden and unexpected changes to everyday operations.
- For example in a testimonial from the Alice House in Nova Scotia, the Executive Director, Heather Byrne stated the following: "The quick receipt of funding from WAGE Canada last month has provided Alice House with vital resources to respond to the increased risk of violence against the women that we are trying so hard to keep safe. This emergency funding also sent us a strong message that in a time of isolation and despair that the federal government understands the current elevated pressure on domestic violence organizations and is there to help."
Background
According to a recent CBC series, women and children are turned away from shelters in Canada about 19,000 times a month. These organizations do not have reserve funds to deal with unexpected situations, such as COVID-19.
On March 18, 2020, the Government of Canada announced a COVID-19 Economic Response Plan which includes an investment of up to $50 million to women's shelters and sexual assault centres to help with their capacity to manage or prevent an outbreak in their facilities. Below is the breakdown of the $50 million:
- $30 million to WAGE for violence against women shelters and sexual assault centres across the country;
- $10 million in a contingency fund for organizations most deeply affected by COVID-19; and
- $10 million to Indigenous Services Canada, to support First Nations emergency shelters on reserve and in the Yukon.
On April 4, 2020, the Prime Minister reconfirmed the $40 million investment to WAGE and provided details on how the $30 million would be implemented:
- $20.54 million was provided to Women's Shelters Canada (WSC). They have distributed the funding to over 430 violence against women shelters across the country (excluding Quebec, and Indigenous shelters funded by Indigenous Services Canada)
- $3 million was provided to Canadian Women's Foundation (CWF). They have distributed the funding to over 90 sexual assault centres across the country (excluding Quebec).
- $6.46 million is being distributed by the Government of Quebec to approximately 167 violence against women shelters and sexual assault centres in the province.
In addition, up to $10 million has been provided to Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC) existing network of 46 emergency shelters on reserve and in Yukon to support Indigenous women and children fleeing violence.
The operational funding is being delivered through ISC's Family Violence Prevention Program. The amount for each shelter has been determined based on factors such as on-reserve population, remoteness, and number of beds.
On May 29, 2020, an amendment was signed with the Canadian Women's Foundation for $10 million in contingency funding. This funding is being provided to organizations, beyond shelters and sexual assault centres, providing critical supports and services to women and children fleeing violence. As of June 26, 2020, 42% (150) organizations had registered and 30% (109) had received payment under the contingency fund. WAGE has negotiated an additional $2.3 million with the Government of Quebec, pending approval from the Province of Quebec.
Testimonials:
Saskatoon Interval House, SK
Tanya Wiggins, Executive Director
"Every year our shelter needs to fundraise well over $100,000.00 to keep our doors open. We all know COVID-19 has affected our economy and this causes concern for our shelter. We have already been notified that a few of our major fundraisers have been cancelled. The federal dollars we received will help to close the gap and allow us to continue to offer our programming to families in need.
Another example is in regards to capacity. We have limited the number of families we can accommodate in shelter due to COVID-19. With the Federal dollars, we are able to support families in hotels for a short period of time while we work to find affordable, safe accommodations for them.
Finally, we are now able to purchase equipment and programming to support our clients online. Doing our work differently."
Erin Griver, Director of Women's Services
Inasmuch House, ON
"This time is unprecedented for women's shelters and the violence against women sector. During the COVID crisis, staying at home is not a safe option for everyone. The requirements to stay in place as a Public Health measure unfortunately creates conditions where abusive partners exert greater control, and incidents of violence and threats are escalating. At Inasmuch House, Violence against Women Services and Shelters continue to be available to support women and their children. Crisis lines and emergency shelter services are open 24/7, and we are working hard to ensure that we can continue to offer a safe space and services to women and children. The extra funding to cover the additional costs of running a shelter during a Pandemic has been life saving for these women. As a result of this funding we are able to continue to provide the same supports for women and children experiencing abuse, even during a Pandemic."
Issue: Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+)
Recommended response
- The impacts of COVID-19 are gendered, and can have particularly devastating effects on vulnerable women, LGBTQ2 people and children.
- It has never before been more important to keep in mind gendered and intersectional impacts and to ensure we are doing our due diligence on GBA+ through the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Government of Canada has responded by ensuring robust GBA+ on the initiatives being implemented in response to the pandemic. It has implemented substantial measures, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, to minimize the health, economic, and social impacts of this rapidly evolving crisis.
- By considering GBA+, the Government is able to better understand the social determinants of health and continue to support Canadians in building resilience during the crisis.
- WAGE has established a Task Team dedicated to examining the various impacts of COVID-19 on different populations and to create resources and tools for applying a Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) lens in the development of policy and program responses across the Government of Canada. The four areas of focus for the task team include:
- Economic participation and prosperity;
- Leadership and democratic participation;
- Gender-based violence and access to justice; and
- Poverty reduction, health, and well-being.
Background
GBA+ and the COVID-19 Response
Throughout the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, WAGE has worked with partners across government departments to ensure that GBA+ has been considered in respect of the response measures. Actions to date have included:
- WAGE established a Task Team dedicated to examining the various impacts of COVID-19 on different populations and to create resources and tools for applying a Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) lens in the development of policy and program responses across the Government of Canada;
- Completed a knowledge synthesis and comprehensive analysis of the gendered and intersectional impacts of COVID 19.
- WAGE's co-chairing (with Canadian Heritage) the Equity-Seeking Communities and COVID-19 Task Force;
- Worked with provincial/territorial officials on the application of the GBA+ lens to COVID-19;
- Hosted a special session of the GBA+ Interdepartmental Committee to facilitate sharing of information and best practices; and
- Hosted a panel discussion, in collaboration with the Canada School of Public Service, entitled Achieving an Inclusive Pandemic Response with GBA+ attended by 1,500 public servants.
Training
- Since 2012, over 185,000 people have completed the GBA+ online course, including federal public servants, parliamentarian and their staff, as well as provincial and territorial officials.
- In addition, the Department collaborated with the Canada School of Public Service (the School) to develop a Premium Course for GBA+, a four-day course for policy analysts on applying the principles of GBA+ when writing, reviewing or challenging a Memorandum to Cabinet, a Budget Proposal or a TB Submission. Strategic relationships are being developed and strengthened, and a network of GBA+ experts from across the Government of Canada is increasingly collaborating to meet common goals.
Other GBA+ measures
- GBA+ is now mandatory in all Treasury Board Submissions, Memoranda to Cabinet, Departmental Results Frameworks and Reports, and it is reflected in the Cabinet Directive on Regulations.
- The 2018 Canadian Gender Budgeting Act enshrined gender budgeting in federal budgetary and financial processes; and
- Due to the growing demand for better intersectional data - and the Government has responded by creating Statistics Canada's Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics.
Issue: Women's economic security
Recommended response
COVID specific measures:
- Throughout the pandemic, women are demonstrating the essential role they play in Canada's economy, whether providing healthcare, or contributing to our service sector. As primary caregivers in the home, they also subsidize our country's economic activity.
- Women are key to Canada's economic recovery. That is why the Government is taking steps to address women's economic vulnerability during COVID-19. This includes measures such as:
- Providing a tax-free Canada Emergency Response Benefit to support workers who lose their income as a result of this pandemic;
- Boosting the Canada Child Benefit to help with the high cost of taking care of kids during this challenging period;
- Topping up the GST tax credit for families and individuals with low and modest incomes; and
- Offering $14 billion to the Provinces and Territories to get our communities back up and running and support the services Canadians rely on like child care.
Government of Canada measures to date:
- These measures build on what the Government is already undertaking to address the root causes of women's economic vulnerability, including:
- Increasing women's workforce participation:
- Programs to support women in skilled trades;
- Pilot programming to support labour market pathways for newcomer women;
- The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy to support and grow women-led business.
- Better addressing systemic vulnerabilities:
- Investing in the National Housing Strategy;
- Paid leave from work for victims of family violence;
- Better access to the Canada Child Benefit;
- Investments in Early Learning and Child Care;
- Increasing the Guaranteed Income Support for seniors; and
- Improving access to the Canada Workers Benefit.
- Increasing women's workforce participation:
WAGE specific investments to date:
- The Department for Women and Gender Equality supports Women's Economic Security by funding organizations to building partnerships to address systemic barriers; and increase private sector leadership and investments in women.
- In fall 2017, the Department for Women and Gender Equality launched two calls for proposals, representing approximately $15 million, to increase the economic security of women in Canada. Of the $15 million, $5 million was to support Indigenous women's economic success.
- In 2019-20, WAGE invested over $17 million in 152 projects to improve women's and girls' economic security and prosperity.
Background
Responding to economic impacts of COVID-19
Unemployment:
- Women and LGBTQ2 people are facing increased rates of unemployment and economic hardship. Additional intersections show increased disproportions of economic burden on already vulnerable populations.
- In Canada, women are over-represented in service industries shut down in response to COVID-19.
- Women hold the majority of jobs in sectors first impacted by physical distancing measures, such as accommodation, food services and retail, and, as a result, lost jobs in March 2020 at twice the rate of men. And in May 2020, when the economy started to reopen, increases in employment for men were double that of women.
- The closure of schools and daycares also impacts on women's ability to participate in the labour force or continue their own educations (as care work typically falls disproportionately to women).
Essential workers:
- Women are over-represented in low-income occupations that have been deemed as front-line and essential during the crisis, and consequently, are disproportionately exposed to COVID-19.
- Over half of all female workers (56%) are employed in occupations involving the "5 Cs": caring, clerical, catering, cashiering and cleaning.
- Canada's primary care and long-term care systems are staffed largely by women: over 90% of nurses; 75% of respiratory therapists; up to 90% of the personal support workers in long-term care homes and home care work in the community; and over two-thirds of people who clean and disinfect hospitals, schools, and office buildings.
Response measures include:
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), a tax-free benefit of $2,000 a month to support workers who lost their income as of result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also allows people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB.
- Additional assistance to families with children by temporarily boosting Canada Child Benefit payments, delivering almost $2 billion in extra support.
- Additional assistance to individuals and families with low and modest incomes with a special top-up payment under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit, delivering $5.5 billion in support.
- Up to $3 billion to the provinces and territories to top-up the wages of low-income essential workers in the fight against COVID-19.
- Support for seniors, such as:
- Providing an additional one-time payment of $300 for seniors who qualify for Old Age Security, and an extra $200 for those eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement. To support practical services for Canadian seniors during this crisis, contributing $9 million through United Way Canada for local organizations; and allowing community-based recipients to use funding through the New Horizons for Seniors Program for pandemic-related expenditures.
- Support to Indigenous communities, such as:
- $305 million for a new distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation communities.
- $270 million to supplement the On-Reserve Income Assistance Program to address increased demand on the program.
Ongoing government initiatives
In addition to these measures, there are a number of other initiatives that support women's economic security, including:
- The Poverty Reduction Strategy, released in August 2018, which targeted a 20% reduction in poverty by 2020 and a 50% reduction in poverty by 2030, relative to 2015 levels. The Government met its first poverty reduction target three years ahead of schedule. Between 2015 and 2017, the poverty rate fell by more than 20% to 9.5%.
- Early Learning and Child Care: The Government is supporting the creation of affordable, high-quality child care spaces for low and modest income families, with the goal of supporting up to 40,000 new subsidized child care spaces over the next three years. The Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments reached an historic agreement on a Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework on June 12, 2017.
- EI flexibilities so that parents can receive extra weeks of Employment Insurance (EI) parental benefits and can share raising their children more equally.
- Canada Child Benefit: Introduced in 2016, the CCB is a simpler, tax-free, and more generous child benefit better targeted to those who need it most and helps families with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age.
- Canada Workers Benefit: Strengthening this refundable tax credit intended to supplement the earnings of low income workers by making it more generous, and more accessible.
- Women Entrepreneurship Strategy: A $2 billion investment seeking to double the number of majority women-owned small and medium enterprises by 2025.
- In fall 2017, the Department launched two calls for proposals representing an investment of approximately $15 million to increase the economic security of women in Canada. Investments focused on collaborative projects that addressed the root causes (e.g. pay inequity, accessibility of childcare, wage gap) that limit the economic security of women in Canada.
- Budget 2019 announced that the Government will invest $160 million over five years, starting in 2019‑20, to enhance the Women's Program to advance gender equality in Canada, this could include (but not limited to) funding opportunities with a focus on advancing economic opportunities for women.
Issue: Senior women
Recommended response
- Seniors are at greater risk of poor health outcomes during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Vulnerable seniors, such as those living in social isolation or poverty, and those living in long term care are at even greater risk.
- The Government of Canada is working to support seniors at risk of economic insecurity. Senior women experience lower income at a higher rate than men.
- As part of the COVID-19 response, the Government is:
- providing an additional one-time payment of $300 for seniors who qualify for Old Age Security, and an extra $200 for those eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement
- contributing $9 million through United Way Canada for local organizations to support practical services to Canadian seniors, such as delivery of groceries or medications, or personal outreach to assess individuals' needs
- In addition, the Government has increased the Guaranteed Income Supplement by up to $947 annually for the lowest-income single seniors.
- It is estimated that this increase has lifted 57,000 seniors out of poverty, and approximately 38,000 were women.
Background
Data on senior women
- In 2017, about 9.5% of people were living below Canada's official poverty line. That same year, about 4.2% of senior women, and 3.6% of senior men were living in poverty, with rates substantially higher among unattached senior women (8.4%) and men (8.4%).
- The median yearly income for senior women has risen from 2003 to 2019. However, the median income of senior men remained approximately 1.5 times higher than that of senior women in 2019.
Government initiatives
- In Budget 2016, the Government cancelled the increase in the age of eligibility for Old Age Security (OAS) benefits from 65 to 67. This restoration allows future 65 and 66 year-old individuals to receive, on average, over $10,400 per year in OAS and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) benefits.
- The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) provides assistance to close to 900,000 low-income seniors, 70% of whom are women. It is estimated that increasing the GIS by up to $947 lifted 57,000 seniors out of poverty (based on the Market Basket Measure), and reduced the depth of poverty for the remaining single GIS recipients by an average of $700.
- Announced in Budget 2019, the eligibility of the earnings exemption for the GIS was extended, and provides a full or partial exemption of up to $15,000 for annual employment or self-employment. This means that seniors who would like to work can without sacrificing their other benefits.
- Budget 2019 also proposed that by 2020 all eligible seniors aged 70 or older will be proactively enrolled in the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
- As of June 2020, 6,380 seniors have been proactively enrolled.
- Senior women are disproportionately affected by dementia, making up two-thirds of this population.
- Budget 2018 funded the Public Health Agency of Canada with $20 million over 5 years to fund community based projects that address dementia, to help improve the lives of those living with dementia and lessen the burden of care work for their families and primary care givers (the majority of whom are women). Budget 2019 announced $50 million over 5 years to implement a National Dementia Strategy.
- Employment and Social Development Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program supports seniors in need by: promoting volunteerism among seniors; engaging seniors in the mentoring of others; expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse; supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors; and providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects for seniors. Budget 2019 increased funding by $100M over five years with $20M a year ongoing.
- Between 2004 and 2019, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has supported over 23,000 projects.
- Community-based recipients are now allowed to use funding through this Program for activity expenditures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g. the delivery of food and medication or personalized monitoring of seniors to ensure their needs are met).
- On June 17, 2019, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women presented their report on the challenges faced by senior women. The report made 27 recommendations that focus on: senior women's income and financial security, access to affordable housing, social isolation, health and access to health services, and experiences of discrimination and gender-based violence. The report calls for a national seniors strategy, as well as stronger application of gender-based analysis plus, particularly to research and address gaps in knowledge about the experiences faced by LGBTQ2 seniors.
Impacts of COVID-19
- Seniors are at greater risk of poor health outcomes. Seniors living in residences and nursing homes are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 and dying from it.
- Many seniors do not have people they can rely on to bring them essential supplies and many live on fixed incomes. This makes delivery services, as well as escalating costs due to the pandemic (for example, higher food costs) unaffordable. The Government of Canada is providing:
- an additional one-time payment of $300 for seniors who qualify for OAS, and an extra $200 for those eligible for the GIS
- assistance to individuals and families with low and modest incomes with a special top-up payment under the GST credit, delivering $5.5 billion in support. More than 4 million seniors benefited, which gave an average of $375 for single seniors and $510 for senior couples
- $9 million through United Way Canada to support services to seniors. These services could include the delivery of groceries, medications, or personal outreach to assess individuals' needs and connect them to community supports
Issue: Preventing and addressing gender-based violence
Recommended response
- Everyone has the right to live free from violence and the Government of Canada is committed to preventing and addressing Gender-Based Violence.
- The Government of Canada launched its first federal strategy, It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, and committed over $200 million in new investments and over $40 million per year ongoing to advance efforts in three areas: preventing gender-based violence; supporting survivors and their families; and promoting responsive legal and justice systems.
- WAGE is receiving $108.5 million between 2017-18 and 2022-23 and $22 million ongoing for public education and awareness, research, programming, and the establishment of the GBV Knowledge Centre.
- To date, nearly 60 projects related to gender-based violence were funded for over $50 million. These projects are essential in the work to end gender-based violence in Canada or to support survivors.
- Building on the foundation laid by the Federal Strategy, the Government of Canada is moving forward to develop a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence with a focus on ensuring that anyone facing gender-based violence has reliable and timely access to services.
- The pandemic has reinforced the need for a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and amplified its urgency.
Background
Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence
- On June 19, 2017, the Minister for Women and Gender Equality (formerly Status of Women Canada) launched the federal GBV Strategy, which takes a whole-of-government approach to prevent and address GBV and brings together the GBV-related efforts of all federal departments and agencies.
- The GBV Knowledge Centre, housed within WAGE, is the focal point of the GBV Strategy and is responsible for governance and coordination, reporting and evaluation, data and research, and knowledge mobilization.
- Budgets 2017 and 2018 committed over $200 million over 5 years and $40 million ongoing for GBV initiatives. A total of 6 departments have received funding through Budgets 2017 and 2018 under the GBV Strategy and they include Public Safety Canada; Public Health Agency of Canada; Department of National Defence; Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada; the Royal Mounted Policy of Canada; and WAGE. Of that amount, WAGE is receiving $108.5 million between 2017-18 and 2022-23 and $22 million ongoing for public education and awareness, research, programming, and the establishment of the GBV Knowledge Centre.
- Key WAGE accomplishments to date under the Strategy include:
- GBV Program was launched which provides funding to organizations working in the GBV sector to implement innovative interventions. Through WAGE's Gender-Based Violence program, nearly 60 projects totalling over $50 million have been funded to develop and test promising practices to support survivors of Gender-Based Violence and their families.
- In December 2018, the GBV Knowledge Centre's online platform was launched, which compiles resources and research into a single platform providing information on federal funding opportunities related to GBV and searchable databases that bring together existing data, evidence and federal initiatives on GBV. Since it launched in December 2018 until May 2020, the online platform was visited close to 28,100 times.
- Three new national surveys were developed that will establish baselines on the prevalence of different forms of GBV within different populations, provide a deeper understanding of GBV in Canada and measure progress overtime:
- Survey on Safety in Public and Private Spaces, released in Fall 2019
- Survey on Individual Safety in Postsecondary Student Population, data was collected between February and June 2019 (planned spring 2020 release postponed due to COVID)
- Survey on Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace is in development
- Public Opinion Research on attitudes around Gender Equality, GBV and #MeToo has also been completed.
- Two Annual Reports (2017-18 and 2018-19) have been published to report back to Canadians on progress and achievements made to date. These reports can be found on the GBV Knowledge Centre's Online Platform.
- Early accomplishments from other departments as part of the Strategy include:
- Amending the Canada Labour Code to strengthen existing frameworks for the prevention of harassment and sexual violence in the workplace (Employment and Social Development Canada).
- Strengthening sexual assault provisions in the Criminal Code (Justice Canada).
- Creation of the Sexual Assault Review Team, which has completed a review of over 30,000 "unfounded" sexual assault case files (RCMP).
- On February 7, 2020, the government tabled C-5 An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code. This legislation would require aspiring superior court judges to take training on sexual assault law and the social context (Justice Canada).
National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence
- The Minister for Women and Gender Equality is mandated to build on the foundation laid by It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence (GBV Strategy) and move forward to develop a GBV National Action Plan with provinces and territories.
- A National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence will align with and enhance other federal priorities including: the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls' Calls for Justice, the National Housing Strategy, the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, and the National Strategy on Countering Radicalization to Violence.
Issue: Human trafficking
Recommended response
- Human trafficking is a heinous crime that disproportionately impacts women and girls, members of vulnerable or marginalized populations, their families, and communities.
- Our Government is committed to preventing and addressing all forms of Gender-Based Violence, including supporting those who are at risk of experiencing and those who have experienced human trafficking.
- In September 2019, the Government launched a new comprehensive National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, a whole-of-government approach that brings together existing and new federal efforts to combat this crime, and is supported by an investment of $57.22 million over five years and $10.28 million ongoing.
- This builds on a previous investment of $14.51 million, with $2.89 million ongoing, to establish the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline, launched in May 2019, as well as enhance funding to support victims and survivors of human trafficking, targeted awareness and prevention activities, and training for criminal justice practitioners.
- Through the new Strategy, the Department received $10 million to enhance supports for at-risk populations and survivors of human trafficking.
Background
- Human trafficking, also referred to as Trafficking in Persons, involves the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of persons for the purpose of exploitation, typically sexual exploitation or forced labour.
- Human trafficking is a highly gendered crime and a form of Gender-Based Violence. Police-reported data from 2018 show that women and girls account for 97% of police-identified human trafficking victims in Canada between 2009 and 2018, and 73% were women under the age of 25 and 28% were under the age of 18. Men account for 81% of accused perpetrators, 51% of which were between the ages of 18 and 24, and 6% were between the ages of 12 and 17.
- Most human trafficking cases in Canada involve young women who are primarily trafficked for sexual exploitation. However, cases of human trafficking for the purpose of forced labour are increasingly being reported. Individuals at risk of victimization more generally include persons who are socially or economically disadvantaged, such as Indigenous women and girls, migrants, new immigrants, street-involved youth, and youth in care.
- Budget 2018 invested $14.51 million over 5 years and $2.89 million per year ongoing, to establish the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline, which launched on May 29, 2019. Operated by the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, the hotline is a multi-lingual, 24/7, toll-free line that can receive tips and information as well as refer victims to local law enforcement, shelters, and other trauma-informed supports and services.
- In September 2019, the Government launched the new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, supported by an investment of $57.22 million over 5 years and $10.28 million ongoing. The National Strategy builds on the internationally-recognized pillars of prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships, and incorporates a new pillar of "empowerment" to ensure the Strategy is survivor-centric and enhances supports and services to help them regain control over their lives.
- As part of the new National Strategy, WAGE received $10 million over 5 years and $2 million ongoing to develop a Human Trafficking Initiative, under the new Empowerment Pillar which will provide funding to eligible organizations to develop, deliver, and test:
- innovative prevention initiatives for at-risk populations, including, but not limited to: women and girls, Indigenous women and girls, LGBTQ2 and gender diverse people, immigrant and migrant women, women and girls with disabilities, children and youth; and,
- innovative short-term promising interventions to support victims and survivors to regain control over their lives.
- WAGE's Human Trafficking Initiative will also contribute to other Government of Canada priorities including preventing and addressing Gender-Based Violence, the development of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, and implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Calls for Action and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice.
Issue: Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) and MMIWG Commemoration Fund
Recommended response
- The Government of Canada is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
- As part of the Government of Canada immediate response to the interim report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), WAGE announced $13M in funding to over 100 projects supporting Indigenous governments and organizations' work with families, survivors, and communities to implement commemorative initiatives that help honour the lives and legacies of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ2S people.
- In response to the Calls for Justice in the National Inquiry's final report, the Government of Canada committed to developing a National Action Plan to address violence against Indigenous women, girls, LGBTQ and two-spirit people.
- My department is supporting Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada's efforts to co-develop this plan with Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ and two-spirit groups, organizations, provinces, and territories.
- I have also been mandated to develop a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, and will be working to ensure that these two national action plans are aligned and complement one another.
Background
- In November 2017, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (the National Inquiry) released its Interim Report, Our Women and Girls Are Sacred. Several federal organizations, including WAGE, Indigenous Services Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are taking action to respond to recommendations in the National Inquiry's Interim Report to: better meet the needs of survivors, family members, communities, and others affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls; support commemoration activities; and review police policies and practices.
Commemoration Fund
- The creation of a Commemoration Fund responded to calls for the Government to take early action where warranted, prior to the National Inquiry releasing final recommendations. It also recognizes that the call for further support for commemoration precedes the Inquiry process.
- Over 100 projects totalling more than $13 million over two years were announced on June 24, 2019, to support Indigenous government and organizations to work with families, communities, and survivors to help honour the lives and legacies of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ2S individuals.
- In developing the Fund, the Department followed promising practices, including wisdom from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Commemoration Initiative. Building on the Government's commitment to reconciliation and relationship building with Indigenous peoples, as well as the unique needs of Indigenous women, the Department engaged with Indigenous women's organizations, families, and survivors throughout the implementation of the Commemoration Fund.
National Action Plan re: MMIWG
- On June 3, 2019, the National Inquiry released its Final Report which included 231 Calls for Justice for transformative legal and social changes. The Final Report further calls for the decolonizing of Canadian society and reinstating the power and place of Indigenous women, girls, LGBTQ and two-spirit people by indigenizing structures, institutions, legislation, and policies.
- The Government of Canada committed to bring forward a national action plan to address violence against Indigenous women, girls, LGBTQ and two-spirit people. The Minister for Women and Gender Equality is mandated to support the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations to continue to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and the National Inquiry's Calls for Justice in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.
- The Minister for Women and Gender Equality will also move forward to develop a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, with a focus on ensuring that anyone facing gender-based violence has reliable and timely access to protection and services.
- Both initiatives require coordinated and collaborative actions from federal, provincial, and territorial governments, in line with respective jurisdictional responsibilities, and close partnership with families and survivors, Indigenous partners, civil society, front-line service providers, municipalities, the private sector, and researchers. WAGE is working with CIRNA to ensure the two national action plans are aligned and complement one another.
Issue: GBV and rural broadband
Recommended response
- All Canadians, no matter where they live, need high-speed Internet to connect with family, do their school work, run a business and access essential services.
- Access to broadband is critical to the safety of women and children experiencing and fleeing violence.
- The Government of Canada has made billions available, through several programs such as Connect to Innovate (2016) and the CRTC Broadband fund (2015), to support the building of rural and remote Internet infrastructure. This includes the upcoming Universal Broadband Fund.
- The Government's COVID-19 emergency response funding is supporting women and children fleeing violence by providing up to $50 million to violence against women shelters and sexual assault centres, including for facilities in Indigenous communities, to ensure the continuity and sustainability of services provided by these organizations.
Background
- Canada's vast landscape with varying geography and climate presents unique challenges in providing high-quality broadband Internet access services for all Canadians. In particular, many rural and remote areas do not have services comparable in speed, capacity, quality or price to what is offered in urban centres.
- To close the remote/rural and urban digital gap, existing infrastructure across Canada needs to be upgraded and new infrastructure needs to be built. This will require a great deal of time and money and a collective effort from all levels of government and the industry.
COVID-19, GBV and broadband
- More Canadians are living and working online while physical distancing at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current crisis has reinforced the fact that high-speed Internet access is a necessity and plays a major role in supporting the Canadian economy post-pandemic.
- The pandemic has also highlighted Canadians' unequal access to high-speed service. For example, in 2018, only 41% of rural households had access to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 10 Mbps upload speeds, compared with 98% of urban homes. Only about 31% of households in Indigenous communities have access to 50/10 Mbps.
- The current physical distancing measures have led to the closure of some support systems and increased the risk of gender-based violence, making online resources one of the only viable options for those at risk of abuse to safely reach out to others.
- For women experiencing violence, Internet connectivity is crucial because it is how they reach out to find information and resources, talk to friends and family, and find tools to develop a safety plan.
- The Government of Canada is accelerating its strategy to increase high-speed broadband coverage in rural Canada and is consulting with telecommunication providers, rural municipalities and others about how best to move up plans to improve access to high-speed Internet in rural and remote communities.
- The Government of Canada has made billions available to support the building of rural and remote internet infrastructure, which includes the upcoming Universal Broadband Fund, a new program that is being designed with input from Canadians, internet service providers and other organizations about existing services and what is needed from the Government.
- Examples of innovative online ways in which people who are experiencing GBV can be supported:
- The Canadian Women's Foundation's "Signal for Help" campaign is an online tool that can be used by those experiencing violence at home to seek help with a simple one-handed gesture during a video call, a person can silently communicate that they feel threatened and would like someone to check in with them.
- The "Unsafe at Home Ottawa" secure chat service to help women living with domestic violence and abuse, which was developed shortly after the pandemic started.
- There have also been partnerships between telecommunications companies and women's shelters in some parts of Canada to provide devices and free voice and data plans to help people in crisis.
Issue: Gender wage gap
Recommended response
- Closing the gender wage gap is crucial to advancing gender equality and women's economic security.
- According to Statistics Canada, in 2019, women earned 88 cents for every dollar earned by men.
- The Government of Canada has put in place several measures to improve women's labour market outcomes, including proactive pay equity legislation, pay transparency measures, and the Early Learning and Child Care initiative.
- The Government is committed to building on this progress and to taking continuous action to reduce the gender wage gap.
- The Pay Equity Act received Royal Assent on December 13, 2018. The government is working to put the key pieces in place for the coming into force of the legislation, which is expected to occur once regulations are in place. This legislation will bring about a dramatic shift in how the right to pay equity is protected in federally regulated workplaces.
- And in September 2019, the Canadian Human Rights Commission named its first Pay Equity Commissioner.
- Through Budgets 2017, 2018, and 2019 the Government is working on a number of measures to improve women's labour market outcomes, including:
- Pay transparency measures to provide more information and to hold federally-regulated employers accountable for wage gaps;
- $7.5 billion over ten years to address early learning and child care needs announced in Budget 2016 and 2017;
- Canada Labour Code amendments for flexible work arrangements for federally regulated employees;
- Introduction of the EI Parental Sharing Benefit, with options for earlier access to maternity benefits and for extended parental benefits;
- The Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy to address the challenges women face in business, such as lack of access to capital; and
- New programs to support more women to enter and succeed in well-paying careers in STEM and the skilled trades, such as the Women in Construction Fund.
Background
Statistics from Canada on the gender wage gap
- The gender pay gap is the difference between the earnings of women and men, typically expressed as a proportion of men's earnings.
- When comparing average hourly wages of women and men (aged 15+) in 2019, women earned 88 cents for every dollar earned by men suggesting a gap of 12%. The gap has narrowed since 2015, when it was 86 cents. Time will tell if COVID-19 will impact this wage gap.
- The gender gap was wider among immigrants, especially "recent immigrants", with women who had landed in Canada within five years prior to the 2018 LFS earning, on average, 81 cents for every dollar earned by immigrant men who landed in Canada during the same period (compared to 80 cents in 2017).
- Earning inequalities between women and men tend to increase with age because women experience more employment interruptions than men, and because older women generally have lower levels of educational attainment and work experience than younger women.
- A study released in January 2020 by the University of Ottawa and the Labour Market Information Council (with the support of Statistics Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada) suggests that an annual earning inequality also seems to appear immediately after postsecondary graduation and widens notably in the first five years in the workforce.
- When comparing annual earnings of women and men with the same credentials, the study found that women earn 2% to 21% less than their male counterparts in the first year after graduating.
- When comparing annual earnings of women and men with the same credentials and within the same field of study, the study found that five years after graduation, women earned less than their male counterparts in every field of study at all credential levels with the biggest annual earning gaps in the STEM fields.
- Furthermore, Indigenous women continue to experience persistent obstacles to their economic wellbeing, as demonstrated by labour force participation rates and prevalence of low income:
- In 2019, 75% of Indigenous women (this excludes those living on reserves and other "Aboriginal settlements" in the provinces as well as those living in the territories) in the core working ages of 25 to 54 participated in the labour force, compared to 84% of Indigenous men.
- In 2016, the prevalence of low income among Indigenous women was 25% compared to 14% for the total population of women and girls in Canada.
- During COVID-19, employment losses in April among the off-reserve Indigenous population were comparable to those in the non-Indigenous population.
- There are a number of factors that contribute to the gender wage gap:
- Societal norms and biases influence the value of jobs and wages, so that sectors and jobs where women and men work are differently valued, with women-dominated occupations and industries being undervalued;
- The unbalanced share of unpaid care work between men and women and insufficient options for child care and elder care result in women doing more unpaid caregiving, having less time for paid work, and having more family-related work interruptions, which may impact their career path;
- In 2015, a greater proportion of women performed unpaid work activities than did men (89.9% versus 80.1%):
- Women aged 25 to 54 spent an average of 3.9 hours daily on unpaid work as a primary activity, compared to 2.4 for men;
- The number of hours per day spent on unpaid domestic and care work by Indigenous women aged 25-54 was the same (3.9) as the number of hours spent by non-Indigenous women, compared to 2.5 for Indigenous men.
- Women aged 15 to 64 (measure used by OECD) spent an average of 4.1 hours daily on unpaid work, compared to 2.6 for men.
- Gender bias and discrimination (intentional and unintentional) in business practices prevent women from achieving their full economic potential, such as access to capital.
- Accordingly, the gender wage gap must be tackled on a number of fronts. The Government of Canada has been responding to this issue by implementing measures that increase the value of women's work like pay equity and transparency as well as measures that support care-related responsibilities like the new EI Parental Sharing Benefit, the creation of affordable, high-quality child care spaces for low and modest income families, and flexible work arrangements.
- Women are key to Canada's economic recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. That is why the Government is also taking steps to address women's economic vulnerability during COVID-19. This includes measures such as:
- Essential food support with $100 million to organizations across Canada to purchase, transport and distribute food and other basic necessities;
- Additional assistance to families with children by temporarily boosting Canada Child Benefit payments, delivering almost $2 billion in extra support;
- Offering $14 billion to the Provinces and Territories to get our communities back up and running and support the services Canadians rely on like child care;
- $157.5 million to the Reaching Home initiative to address the needs of Canadians experiencing homelessness;
- Up to $50 million to over 800 organizations supporting women and children fleeing violence; and
- $305 million for a new distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund to address food insecurity, educational and other support for children, mental health assistance and preparedness measures for COVID-19.
Issue: Women in politics
Recommended response
- When women participate fully in the public life of our country, we all benefit from the diversity of perspectives, talent and experience they contribute.
- The Government is supporting efforts to overcome systemic barriers that keep women out of politics through various initiatives. For example, $547,300 was provided to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to develop a national strategy to address barriers that impede women's active political participation.
- The Government has also taken steps to ensure the House of Commons is flexible, compassionate and reasonable in making accommodations for Members to improve work-life balance, such as:
- Enacting legislation to ensure that federally-regulated workplaces, including Parliament Hill, are free from harassment and sexual violence;
- Introducing a first-ever parental leave program for MPs that allows them to be absent for up to a year to care for a newborn or newly-adopted child. Male MPs can claim this time as well;
- Introducing a change to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons to allow an infant being cared for by an MP to be present on the floor of the House of Commons; and
- Providing childcare access and designated spaces for MPs with infants and children.
- Budget 2019 announced that the Government will invest $160 million over five years, starting in 2019-20, to enhance the Women's Program to advance gender equality in Canada.
- Since 2015, the Department for Women and Gender Equality, through the Women's Program, has invested over $27 million in projects that strengthen women's leadership.
- In 2019-20, the Women's Program at WAGE invested $17 million to support 144 new and ongoing projects under the priority "Encouraging women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles".
- 25 projects were completed, reaching an estimated 14,265 Canadians directly and another 3 million through social media and awareness campaigns, including at least 2.19 million women and girls.
Background
- Barriers that prevent women from becoming involved in politics include a lack of support from and for their families, fear of negative attacks based on gender norms, difficulty obtaining private donations, and societal perceptions of appropriate career paths for women.
- In December 2017, the Canadian Press surveyed current female MPs. Of 89 female members of Parliament, 38 chose to respond to the voluntary survey: nearly fifty-eight per cent said they had personally been the target of one or more forms of sexual misconduct while in office. Three MPs said they were victims of sexual assault and four said they were the targets of sexual harassment. Of the 22 MPs who had experienced sexual misconduct, 15 said the misconduct was committed by another MP.
- While the Canadian House of Commons currently has a record-high rate of female representation at 98 of 338 or 29%, Canada ranks 58th among 191 countriesFootnote 1 when comparing presence of women in national parliaments.
- Nonetheless, Parliament has made progress to improve work-life balance in the House of Commons, including:
- Scheduling votes after Question Period instead of in the evenings;
- Publishing the House of Commons calendar earlier to allow easier planning for members and coordination with school calendars; and
- Working with the House of Commons Administration to ensure that special accommodations are guided by principles of flexibility, compassion and reasonableness.
Budget 2019 initiatives
- To enable further community action to tackle systemic barriers impeding women's progress, $160 million over five years, starting in 2019-20, was committed to enhance the Women's Program. This funding will advance gender equality in Canada and support a range of projects to advance systemic equality for women, including supporting more women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles.
Budget 2018 initiatives
- To ensure that federal workplaces, including Parliament, are free from harassment and violence:
- $34.5 million over five years, starting in 2018-19, and $7.4 million per year ongoing, was committed to support implementation of Bill C-65;
- $25.4 million over five years was committed to boost legal aid funding to support victims of sexual harassment in the workplace; and,
- $25.0 million over five years was committed to better inform workers about their rights and how they can access help if they have been harassed in the workplace.
- To ensure that the House of Commons is flexible, compassionate and reasonable in making accommodations for Members, the following commitments were made:
- to work with Parliament to improve work-life balance and provide childcare access and designated spaces for Members with infants and children;
- to allow an infant being cared for by a Member of Parliament to be present on the floor of the House of Commons; and
- to make it possible for Parliamentarians to take maternity and parental leave.
Complementary initiatives
- December 13, 2018, Bill C-76 became law amending the Canada Elections Act. Amendments include: allowing candidates to use their own funds, in addition to campaign funds, to pay for disability-related, childcare, or other relevant home- or healthcare expenses; and to increase the reimbursement rate to 90% for such expenses and exempt them from campaign spending limits.
- On April 10, 2019, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO) tabled its final report on the barriers facing women in politics in Canada, entitled Elect Her: A Roadmap for Improving the Representation of Women in Canadian Politics. This report covers four main topics: The barriers facing women who choose to run for elected offices, in all levels of government; the recruitment of women from diverse backgrounds; the barriers facing women running for elected office in Canada's electoral system; and the difficulties for women working as elected officials in Canada. No government response was tabled due to the election timing.
- The Department created the Indigenous Women's Circle, which brings together Indigenous leaders to offer guidance and expertise, and inform the department's efforts to address systemic inequalities experienced by Indigenous women, including in leadership roles.
- In November 2018, the Department provided $547,300 in funding to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) for a project to encourage more women to get involved in public life and help attain greater parity on municipal councils across the country. FCM is engaging partners (e.g., provincial and territorial municipal associations, Equal Voice, the Canadian Women's Foundation and the private sector) to develop a national strategy and offer support to women to participate in municipal politics.
- In October 2018, the Government announced $3.8 million in funding to Equal Voice for a project to empower the next generation of women leaders, and increase women's participation in politics with a view to creating more gender-balanced governments. In April 2019, young women engaged in events in the House of Commons and are developing community pilot initiatives in their ridings and benefiting from mentorship by former Members of Parliament and Senators, and women in elected positions across Canada.
Issue: Women in STEM and non-traditional employment
Recommended response
- Increasing women's participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well as the skilled trades, is good for the economy and for Canadians. This is true now more so than ever as we look toward economic recovery from COVID-19.
- That is why the Government of Canada continues to be committed to advancing gender equality in STEM and skilled trades.
- For example, Budget 2019 made important investments in Let's Talk Science for their work in engaging youth through hands-on STEM learning, and promoting STEM to girls and other under-represented groups.
- To support more women to enter and succeed in the skilled trades, Canada has invested in several programs including the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program, Apprenticeship Incentive Grants for Women, and the Women in Construction Fund.
- Since November 2015, the Department, through the Women's Program, has approved $11.3 million in support of projects to advance women's participation in non-traditional professions in which they are underrepresented, including in STEM.
Background
- Despite significant increases in women's levels of education and labour market participation, the gender wage gap remains as other barriers continue to prevent women from reaching their full economic potential.
- Among these are the effects of occupational segregation by gender. As a result, women are over-represented in low-paying and part-time occupations and underrepresented in full-time high-paying ones. Having more women participate in STEM and skilled trades will help to close the gender wage gap.
Government of Canada initiatives: STEM and skilled trades
- Announced in Budget 2018, the Social Science and Humanities Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Canadian Institutes of Health Research are tasked with developing new plans to achieve greater diversity among research funding recipients. To support these goals, the Government is investing in, for example:
- $210 million over five years ($50 million ongoing) for the Canada Research Chairs Program to better support early-career researchers, while increasing diversity among nominated researchers;
- $15 million over five years to implement programs (like Dimensions, and Canadian Athena SWAN) that support improving equity, diversity and inclusion at post-secondary institutions.
- Budget 2019 provided $10 million over two years to Let's Talk Science for their work engaging youth in hands-on STEM learning, including promoting STEM to girls and other under-represented groups.
- The skilled trades also offer women opportunities for well paying, rewarding jobs in sectors across the economy. The Government is investing in supporting more women to enter and succeed in the skilled trades, such as:
- $19.9 million over five years, starting in 2018‑19, to pilot an Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women. Under the grant, women receive $3,000 for each of their first two years of training up to $6,000.
- $10.0 million over three years from Employment and Social Development Canada's existing resources to launch the Women in Construction Fund in 2018-19.
WAGE specific supports:
- Since November 2015, the Department has approved $11.3 million in support of projects to advance women's participation in non-traditional professions in which they are underrepresented, including in STEM. For example:
- A project by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta is working to increase the participation of women in STEM professions through consultations, an analysis on diversity and pay equity, and the development and piloting of a workplace culture policy.
Issue: Bill S-209
Recommended response
- The Government of Canada welcomes the heighted interest and the fact that conversations on gender equality and on GBA+ are happening at many levels, including in the Senate with the introduction of Bill S-209.
- Bill S-209 seeks to amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act to increase the role of the Minister for WAGE in examining bills for their effects on women. While the broad intent of the Bill is consistent with the Government's commitment to advancement of GBA+, we continue to monitor the progress of this important Bill as it moves through the Senate. A formal response will be formulated as the Bill progresses further.
Background
Private Members Bill S-209
- On February 4, 2020, Senator Mary Jane McCallum (Independent Senators Group) introduced Bill S-209, an Act to Amend the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act. The second reading of the Bill took place on February 19, 2020.
- The Bill proposes to include a provision in the Departmental legislation that would require the Minister for Women and Gender Equality to examine every Government Bill introduced in either House of Parliament and table a statement that sets out potential effects of the Bill on women, particularly Indigenous women. The Bill would also require the Government to table similar statements for other Bills that are referred to a Committee. The Bill includes details on the timing in relation to the tabling of these gender statements.
- While the wording in the Bill focuses on gender, the speeches supporting the Bill suggest that the intent is to require the Government to make publicly available the GBA+ of the legislation being tabled.
- On May 7, 2020, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer released a Legislative Costing Note that estimated the potential fiscal cost of the Bill in 2020-21 to be $350,000.
- WAGE officials are currently monitoring the progress of the Bill, undertaking analysis and developing potential options to inform a government position on the Bill.
Women and Gender Equality Act
- In December 2018, new legislation created the Department for Women and Gender Equality, transforming the former Status of Women into an official department of the Government of Canada.
- In addition to introducing the roles and responsibilities of a full Line Department, legislation included an expanded mandate for WAGE with two key features: advancing equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression; and promoting a greater understanding of the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors.
- As such, WAGE now has legislated responsibilities to lead and promote strong application of GBA+ in all Government activities.
- Under the new legislation, the Minister for Women and Gender Equality now has expanded powers, including entering into agreements with governments of provinces or territories to coordinate policies related to women and gender equality; and establish advisory and other committees and provide for their memberships, duties, functions and operations.
- In addition to the Women and Gender Equality Act, there are a number of legislative and non-legislative supports for GBA+ in legislation, such as:
- Canadian Gender Budgeting Act: The Act requires that upon the tabling of the budget plan, the Minister of Finance tables within 30 days "a report on the impacts in terms of gender and diversity of all new budget measures described in the plan" if an assessment of the impacts is not included in the budget plan or any related documents made public. The Act also requires the Minister of Finance to annually make available to the public, the analysis of impacts in terms of gender and diversity of the tax expenditures, that the Minister of Finance considers appropriate.
- Integration of GBA+: WAGE, in collaboration with Central Agencies and other federal partners has enhanced capacities and helped the government respond to increased GBA+ requirements. These additional requirements include:
- GBA+ is mandatory in all Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) Submissions and Memoranda to Cabinet;
- The TBS Directive on Results includes mandatory GBA+ in Departmental Results Frameworks, Program Inventories, Performance Information Profiles and Programs;
- The Cabinet Directive on Regulations includes mandatory GBA+ as part of the regulatory impact analysis;
- Legislation increasingly includes GBA+ and obligations to conduct intersectional analysis. For example, the new Impact Assessment Act requires that GBA+ be a factor in the assessment of designated projects;
- The Canadian Gender Budgeting Act, passed in December 2018 enshrines gender budgeting in the federal government's budgetary and financial management processes; and
- In Budget 2019 the Government of Canada increased transparency by publishing the GBA+ of all budget measures in a Gender Report.
Issue: Government of Canada's gender equality accomplishments
Recommended response
- The Government of Canada continues to build on its significant progress toward gender equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, with historic achievements and initiatives.
- The Government has provided a legal backing for gender equality by:
- entrenching gender budgeting practices into law;
- establishing a dedicated Department for Women and Gender Equality;
- increasing legal protections for Canadians of all genders by amending the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code to add protections based on gender identity and expression;
- passing historic legislation to introduce proactive pay equity for the federal jurisdiction; and
- launching It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, launched in 2017, which has received over $200M in new investments and over $40 million per year ongoing to address gender-based violence.
- The Government also made a historical investment of $160 million in funding to help build the capacity of women's organizations across the country.
Background
Key government achievements
- On November 4, 2015, the Prime Minister appointed
- the first gender-balanced federal Cabinet, allowing for diverse perspectives to be represented at the Cabinet table; and
- the first ever federal minister fully-dedicated to gender issues.
- On November 28, 2017, the Prime Minister delivered an apology to LGBTQ2 Canadians to acknowledge the Government of Canada's role in creating a culture of systemic oppression and criminalization towards LGBTQ2 people.
- To address the wrongs experienced by those who were unfairly criminalized by unjust laws and actions, Bill C-66, the Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act received Royal Assent on June 21, 2018, it puts into place a process to permanently destroy the records of convictions for offences involving consensual sexual activity between same-sex partners that would be lawful today.
- On June 19, 2017, Bill C-16 received Royal Assent. This bill includes gender identity as a prohibited ground for discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act. It also includes violence motivated by gender identity as a form of hate crime under the Criminal Code.
- On March 22, 2017, for the first time, the federal budget included a gender statement examining the gender impact of budget measures. On November 21, 2018, the Fall Economic Statement included the new gender budgeting legislation to enshrine gender budgeting in the federal government's budgetary and financial management processes.
- The Canadian Gender Budgeting Act came into force in December 2018, and enshrines gender budgeting in the federal government's budgetary and financial management processes.
- Budget 2019 fulfilled the Government's commitment to publish the GBA+ in respect of each budget measure; a comprehensive summary of each GBA+ is provided in the Budget 2019 Gender Report annex.
- Budgets will also be guided by the new Gender Results Framework with its six pillars: i) Education and Skills Development, ii) Economic Participation and Prosperity, iii) Leadership and Democratic Participation, iv) Gender-Based Violence and Access to Justice, v) Poverty Reduction, Health and Well-Being, and vi) Gender Equality Around the World.
Key WAGE investments
- Through Budget 2019, $20 million is being invested over three years to help address the unique needs and persisting disparities among LGBTQ2 Canadians by investing in capacity building and community-level work of Canadian LGBTQ2 community organizations.
- As of June 2020, there are 7 funded agreements with organizations across Canada and WAGE is finalizing the assessment process for the LGBTQ2 call for proposals
- Budget 2019 proposed a historic investment: $160 million over five years in new funding, starting in 2019‑20. This funding will enable further community action to tackle systemic barriers impeding women's progress, while recognizing and addressing the diverse experiences of gender and inequality across the country.
- To date, $30 million has been allocated to strategic matched partnerships, resulting in $60 million towards gender equality announced at the 2019 Women Deliver Conference. Up to $10 million was provided to each of the following organizations: Community Foundations of Canada, Canadian Women's Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada. Each organization is matching this funding to advance gender equality efforts across cultures and generations, particularly in rural and remote communities and to support Indigenous women in Canada. An update on progress to date include:
- Community Foundations of Canada
- Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) has run their first pilot intake with 26 community foundations.
- Call for proposals received a good mix of projects from both local GE and non-GE orgs looking to become more involved in GE work.
- Grand Challenges Canada (GCC)
- The organization has formed an Indigenous Gender Equality Reference Group which is very engaged in the design of the funding program.
- GCC's Round 1 Seed Funding Request for Proposals was launched on May 11, 2020. This first round of funding is structured as a two-step process. Applicants will have a four-week period to submit an expression of interest (closed June 10).
- A selection committee of innovation, business and entrepreneur reviewers grounded in Indigenous context and ways of knowing and doing, including experts with relevant social innovation and industry knowledge, will advise on the merit of the proposals and rate each application based on the evaluation criteria outlined in the RFP.
- Up to 40 top applicants from the expression of interest phase will be invited to step 2 to complete a full application.
- Canadian Women's Foundation
- In order to distribute funding, CWF looked at its areas of focus, violence prevention and economic justice, and included a focus on rural, remote and northern communities in their own calls for proposals within each of the funding streams.
- The calls for proposals also indicated priority would be given to programs working with the following groups: Programs for women, girls, Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary people who face multiple barriers and are underserved, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, Black peoples, racialized peoples, those living in rural or northern communities, those who identify as 2SLGBTQI+, living on low-incomes, older peoples, refugee, immigrant or non-status peoples, those with disabilities and/or who are Deaf, and young people
- Initial round of funding has been disbursed already and other funding is pending approval this week and in August 2020.
- Next CFP will be launched between fall 2020 and spring 2021.
- Community Foundations of Canada
- To date, $30 million has been allocated to strategic matched partnerships, resulting in $60 million towards gender equality announced at the 2019 Women Deliver Conference. Up to $10 million was provided to each of the following organizations: Community Foundations of Canada, Canadian Women's Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada. Each organization is matching this funding to advance gender equality efforts across cultures and generations, particularly in rural and remote communities and to support Indigenous women in Canada. An update on progress to date include:
- Budgets 2017 and 2018 committed over $200 million over 5 years and $40 million ongoing for GBV initiatives. Of that amount, WAGE will be receiving $108.5 million between 2017-18 and 2022-23 and $22 million ongoing for public education and awareness, research, programming, and the establishment of the GBV Knowledge Centre.
- Key WAGE accomplishments to date under the Strategy include:
- GBV Program was launched which provides funding to organizations working in the GBV sector to implement innovative interventions. Through WAGE's Gender-Based Violence program, 58 projects have been funded to develop and test promising practices to support survivors of Gender-Based Violence and their families.
- In December 2018, the GBV Knowledge Centre's online platform was launched, which compiles resources and research into a single platform providing information on federal funding opportunities related to GBV and searchable databases that bring together existing data, evidence and federal initiatives on GBV. Since its launched in December 2018 until May 2020, the online platform was visited close to 28,100 times.
- Three new national surveys were developed that will establish baselines on the prevalence of different forms of GBV within different populations, provide a deeper understanding of GBV in Canada and measure progress overtime:
- Survey on Safety in Public and Private Spaces, released in Fall 2019
- Survey on Individual Safety in Postsecondary Student Population, data was collected between February and June 2019 (planned spring 2020 release postponed due to COVID)
- Survey on Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace is in development
- Public Opinion Research on attitudes around Gender Equality, GBV and #MeToo has also been completed.
- Two Annual Reports (2017‑18 and 2018‑19) have been published to report back to Canadians on progress and achievements made to date. These reports can be found on the GBV Knowledge Centre's Online Platform.
- Early accomplishments from other departments as part of the Strategy include:
- Amending the Canada Labour Code to strengthen existing frameworks for the prevention of harassment and sexual violence in the workplace (Justice Canada).
- Strengthening sexual assault provisions in the Criminal Code (Justice Canada).
- Creation of the Sexual Assault Review Team, which has completed a review of over 30,000 "unfounded" sexual assault case files (RCMP).
- On February 7, 2020, the government tabled C-5 An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code. This legislation would require aspiring superior court judges to take training on sexual assault law and the social context.
International
- In June 2019, Canada hosted the Women Deliver 2019 Conference in Vancouver. During the conference, the Prime Minister announced that the Government of Canada will raise its funding to reach $1.4 billion annually by 2023 to support women and girls' health around the world.
- The Minister for Women and Gender Equality also announced the Government of Canada's intention to work with the Equality Fund to establish an innovative global platform bringing the granting, philanthropic and investment worlds together to mobilize resources for women's rights organizations in developing countries. This will be established with a $300-million commitment from the government.
Issue: LGBTQ2 accomplishments
Recommended response
- The Government of Canada believes that promoting equality, protecting rights, and addressing discrimination against LGBTQ2 communities is important.
- Women and Gender Equality Canada is supporting LGBTQ2 organizations by providing $20 million in funding for capacity-building, the first ever federal fund specifically dedicated to advancing LGBTQ2 equality.
- To date, close to $2 million has been distributed to seven organizations through the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund. This funding will enable LGBTQ2 organizations to build stronger infrastructure and networks of community organizations to advance LGBTQ2 equality across Canada.
- The Department for Women and Gender Equality now has an explicit mandate, enshrined in legislation, to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
- The Department is working with the Minister for Diversity and Inclusion and Youth to help ensure a more inclusive future for LGBTQ2 individuals and communities.
- Canadians must feel safe in their identities, and free to be their true selves. That is why the Government of Canada is acting on its commitment to criminalize conversion therapy in Canada.
- In addition to these accomplishments, the Government of Canada has made the following investments in support of LGBTQ2 equality:
- $30 million through Global Affairs Canada to improve socio-economic outcomes for LGBTQ2 people in developing countries;
- Major investments in Pride events across Canada through the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy;
- The Rainbow Refugee Assistance Partnership will provide increased support for LGBTQ2 refugees fleeing violence and persecution through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; and
- $2 million over two years has been set aside under the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program in support of Pride and LGBTQ2 events, through Canadian Heritage.
Background
WAGE
- In December 2018, departmental legislation broadened the mandate of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality to include advancement of equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, which includes LGBTQ2 individuals.
- Budget 2019 provided WAGE $20 million over three yearsFootnote 2 to enhance organizations' service capacity. To date, close to 2 million has been distributed to seven organizations through the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund:
- Fierté Canada Pride ($250,000)
- Conseil québécois LGBT ($249,963)
- Enchanté: a Network of 2SLGBTQ+ Centres of Canada ($700,000)
- Égale Canada Human Rights Trust ($399,884)
- Canadian Rainbow Coalition for Refuge ($150,000)
- 2 Spirits in Motion Foundation ($200,000)
- Canadian Trans Network ($99,984)
- Additional funding from the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund has been set aside for potential extensions of the projects being undertaken by the seven organizations above.
- The remainder of the Budget 2019 funds are being distributed through a Call for Proposals which closed in May 2020. Through the Call for Proposals WAGE has received over 260 applications from LGBTQ2 organizations across the country. The disbursement of these funds to successful applicant organizations is expected to begin by summer/fall 2020.
LGBTQ2 Secretariat
- To support federal work to advance LGBTQ2 equality, the LGBTQ2 Secretariat was established in April 2017. The LGBTQ2 Secretariat was established with Budget 2017 allocating $3.6 million to fund the Secretariat over 3 years. Through Budget 2019, an additional $1.2 million was invested to extend the mandate of the LGBTQ2 Secretariat for an additional year. The Secretariat itself does not directly provide program funding, but instead helps link LGBTQ2 stakeholders and organizations to relevant funding opportunities within the Government of Canada. The LGBTQ2 Secretariat is housed within the Department of Canadian Heritage.
- Following the 2019 federal election, a new Ministerial role, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth (Minister Chagger), was established to address a range of issues, including LGBTQ2 equality. This Minister is situated at Canadian Heritage, and now oversees the LGBTQ2 Secretariat. WAGE will work closely with Minister Chaggar and the LGBTQ2 Secretariat on LGBTQ2 programming.
Other government accomplishments
- In 2016, section 159 (anal intercourse) was repealed from the Criminal Code, removing discriminatory provisions. In 2018, the Government also put into place an expungement process to permanently destroy the records of unjust convictions of individuals for now-lawful sexual activity between same-sex partners.
- In 2017, the Government of Canada amended the Canadian Human Rights Act to include gender identity and gender expression as prohibited grounds for discrimination.
- As of June 4, 2019, individuals who do not identify exclusively as female or male can have an "X" printed on their passport, travel document, citizenship certificate or permanent resident card.
- In March 2020, the Minister of Justice (Minister Lametti) and the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth (Minister Chagger) jointly introduced Bill C-8, which was read for the first time in the House of Commons on March 9, 2020. If passed, it would make amendments to the Criminal Code related to conversion therapy, adding the following offences:
- Causing a minor to undergo conversion therapy
- Removing a minor from Canada to undergo conversion therapy abroad
- Causing a person to undergo conversion therapy against their will
- Profiting from providing conversion therapy
- Advertising an offer to provide conversion therapy
- The legislation would also authorize courts to order the seizure of conversion therapy advertisements or to order their removal from computer systems or the Internet.
Issue: Women in leadership and decision-making
Recommended response
- The Government is committed to increasing the representation of women in positions of leadership and decision-making, in both the public and private sector.
- To that end, the Government now requires all federally-incorporated organizations to disclose the diversity of their senior management and board of directors. This will increase corporate transparency and advance gender equality and diversity in Canada's boardrooms.
- Since its launch in 2016, the new selection process for Governor in Council appointments, which is open, transparent, and merit-based, has shown a significant increase for women.
- Most recent numbers indicate that the GIC population is made up of over 50% women, 6% Indigenous Peoples, 3% of persons with a disability and, 8% persons who identify as a visible minority.
- WAGE also continues to work to increase the number of women in senior decision-making positions across government, and to support continued gender equality and diversity in Canadian companies.
- For example, since 2015, WAGE has invested through its Women's Program over $27 million in projects to advance women's representation in leadership and decision-making roles, including:
- $18 million to fund roughly 50 projects that engage some 150 women leaders from across the country working to advance gender equality locally and as part of a pan-Canadian network.
- 144 projects that were supported under the priority of "Encouraging women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles". 25 projects are complete, they reached an estimated 14,265 Canadians directly and another 3 million through social media and awareness campaigns, including at least 2.19 million women and girls.
Background
Government of Canada efforts:
- The United Nations suggests that women should represent at least 30% of a decision-making body in order to meaningfully influence decision making processes. In Canada, this threshold is not achieved in most forms of leadership for both the private and public sector.
- Canadian Board Diversity Council's 2018 Report Card indicates that women hold 24.4% of FP500 board seats. This is an increase from 2015 when women held 19.5%.
- In February 2016, the Government established an open and transparent process for selecting Governor in Council appointees. This process has helped strengthen trust in Canada's democracy and ensure the integrity of its public institutions.
- Most notably, women have been appointed for the first time to a number of leadership positions, including: the Chief Science Advisor, the Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission, the Chair of Via Rail, the President of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the President of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, the Executive Director of the Standards Council of Canada, the Chief Public Health Officer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Chairperson of the Infrastructure Bank.
- Women have also been appointed to other key leadership positions such as the Chairperson of the Parole Board of Canada, the RCMP Commissioner, the Chairperson of the Royal Canadian Mint, and two Agent of Parliament positions, the Information Commissioner and the Commissioner of Lobbying.
- On May 1, 2018, Bill C-25 received Royal Assent. This Bill amends the Canada Business Corporations Act to require corporations to disclose diversity information to their shareholders, including representation of women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities' on their boards of directors and senior management teams.
- Some of this information, particularly with respect to gender, is already required by most provincial securities commissions; and,
- If policy disclosures are not made, boards will have to explain why to their shareholders.
- Budget 2018 announced that the Government would invest $210 million over five years, starting in 2018‑19 with $50 million per year ongoing, for the Canada Research Chairs Program to better support early-career researchers, while increasing diversity among nominated researchers, including increasing the number of women nominated.
- This investment led to the highest number of nominations of women submitted (43%).
- Budget 2019 announced amendments to the Federal Financial Institutions Statutes which will introduce new requirements for federally regulated financial institutions to disclose policies aimed at promoting gender diversity on boards and in senior management.
WAGE specific efforts:
- WAGE, through its Women's Program, has invested over $27 million in projects to advance women's representation in leadership and decision-making roles, including $18 million to support organizations to work with some 150 women leaders in various sectors and communities, as well as in a pan-Canadian network that will support collaborative action to advance gender equality in Canada.
- The 2019 mandate letter directed the Minister for WAGE to renew her commitment to a Federal Plan for Gender Equality, which will also support the work in advancing gender equality in leadership and decision-making positions. The mandate letter also directed the Minister for WAGE to work with the President of the Treasury Board and the Prime Minister to increase the number of women in senior decision-making positions across government, particularly in central agencies and in our security services. In addition, the Minister for WAGE will work with the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry to support continued gender equality and diversity in Canadian companies.
Issue: Mandate of Minister responsible for women and gender equality
Recommended response
- The Government of Canada continues to work towards creating a more inclusive society for all Canadians, where every person has equal opportunity to succeed.
- As Minister for the Department of Women and Gender Equality, I will continue to advance equality through the inclusion of women and gender diverse people in Canada's economic, social and political life, and through the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence.
- My Department's mandate is reflective of the Government of Canada's commitment to support the women's movement and equality-seeking groups, with a particular focus on vulnerable women, including Indigenous women, women with disabilities, members of LGBTQ2 communities and newcomer, racialized and migrant women.
Background
Minister for Women and Gender Equality
- The Department for Women and Gender Equality Act received Royal Assent on December 13, 2018 as part of the Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 2. This transformed the former Status of Women Canada into the Department for Women and Gender Equality with a Minister for Women and Gender Equality.
- The Minister's powers, duties and functions now formally extend to and include all matters relating to women and gender equality, including the advancement of equality, including social, economic and political equality, with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
- The expanded mandate of the new Department also formalizes as a responsibility of the Minister the promotion of the Government's gender and diversity lens, known as GBA+, which involves the examination of the policy and program impacts of the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors including race, national and ethnic origin, Indigenous origin or identity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic condition, place of residence and disability.
- This legislation has been complemented by the mainstreaming of GBA+, through a number of legislative initiatives, including:
- The Canadian Gender Budgeting Act, formalizing GBA+ in decisions related to budgeting, taxation and expenditures; and
- New legislation related to Environmental Assessments, Energy, Fisheries and Immigration that require consideration of GBA+.
- In support of the expanded mandate, the Government announced in Budget 2019, $20 million over three years to help address the unique needs and persisting disparities among members of the LGBTQ2 community by investing in capacity building and community-level work of service organizations.
- The Department for Women and Gender Equality and the LGBTQ2 Secretariat work closely to advance key LGBTQ2 files.
- The Diversity and Inclusion and Youth Mandate Letter outlines Minister Chagger responsibilities for developing policy related to the LGBTQ2 file. To ensure seamless program delivery and support to LGBTQ2 organizations, the Department for Women and Gender Equality remains accountable for the delivery of the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund and funding agreements with LGBTQ2 community organizations.
- The two organizations are also collaborating on strengthening GBA+ for racialized community initiatives by establishing resources, tools, and training.
Issue: WAGE funding
Recommended response
- Women's organizations and gender equality seeking organizations provide vital services to our communities: supporting women, girls, LGBTQ2 people and people of all gender identities and expressions in Canada to be financially secure, free from violence, and able to fully participate in all aspects of our economy and society.
- Since November 2015, Women and Gender Equality Canada funded over 620 projects for approximately $260 million in their ongoing efforts to ensure that everyone can participate fully as members of Canadian society.
- To date, over 250 of these projects have been funded under the Capacity-building Fund, which supported women's and Indigenous organizations across Canada to continue providing essential supports to women and their families.
- Over 100 projects were supported under the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Commemoration Fund, which provided over $13 million over two years to help honour the lives and legacies of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and LGBTQ and two-spirit people.
- Nearly 60 projects related to gender-based violence were funded for over $50 million. These projects are essential in the work to end gender-based violence in Canada or to support survivors.
- 7 LGBTQ2 organizations funded for $2 million through the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund to help build stronger LGBTQ2 community organizations, networks and infrastructure.
- As part of the COVID-19 response Government of Canada provided up to $40 million to over 800 organizations across Canada, including violence against women shelters and sexual assault centres, to ensure the continuity and sustainability of services to support survivors fleeing violence during this pandemic.
- I am proud that my team at WAGE has worked hard to ensure that we haven't lapsed this important funding, so that organizations on the front line can continue the important work they do to advance gender equality.
- With this funding, last year alone we reached over 3 million women and girls most in need, reducing barriers for them in areas of economic equality and gender-based violence, and building capacity and confidence in the areas of leadership.
Background
- WAGE funding is comprised of the Women's Program; the Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program (LGBTQ2+); and the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Program. A description of each program has been provided below.
- In addition, information on the COVID-19 Emergency Funding for Shelters and Sexual Assault Centres is also provided below.
Women's Program: Summary of funding
- Through the Women's Program, the Department for Women and Gender Equality invests in projects across Canada that address systemic barriers to women's equality. The objective of the Women's Program is to achieve the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.
- With historic increases in funding over the past five years, the Women's Program has been able to significantly extend its funding support to advance systemic change for women's equality and strengthen the capacity of women's organizations.
- From 2015 to 2020, the Women's Program has funded over 560 projects to over 500 organizations, totaling over $208 million. Of that total, over 36% of funding (203 projects, $47.9 million) has been invested in achieving equality of Indigenous women and girls, commemorating the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ2 people, as well as encouraging Indigenous women's innovations, entrepreneurial spirit and leadership.
- The total number of projects funded increased over 43% in the period from 2011 to 2015 (389 projects, $66 million) to 2015 to 2020 (over 560 projects, over $208 million), representing over 215% more funding.
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program (LGBTQ2+)
- Budget 2019 provided $20 million over three years to enhance LGBTQ2 organizations' service capacity.
- To date, $2 million of this funding has been distributed to 7 organizations.
- Fierté Canada Pride ($250,000)
- Conseil québécois LGBT ($249,963)
- Enchanté: a Network of 2SLGBTQ+ Centres of Canada ($700,000)
- Égale Canada Human Rights Trust ($399,884)
- Canadian Rainbow Coalition for Refuge ($150,000)
- 2 Spirits in Motion Foundation ($200,000)
- Canadian Trans Network ($99,984)
- A call for proposals for the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund was launched on March 3, 2020 and closed on May 14, 2020. The recently closed call is expected to result in additional investments that support the capacity of LGBTQ2 organizations across the country whose initiatives contribute to a strong LGBTQ2 movement in Canada to advance equality for all people.
Gender-Based Violence Program
- Following the June 2017 announcement of It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, the Department for Women and Gender Equality launched the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Program in January 2018.
- The GBV Program complements the Department's Women's Program, and helps organizations working in the GBV sector to develop and implement promising practices to address gaps in supports for survivors and their families.
- Through WAGE's Gender-Based Violence Program, more than $50 million is being invested in 58 projects, which develop and test promising practices to support survivors of gender-based violence and their families in communities across Canada.
- Through this program, the Department is particularly focused on addressing gaps in supports for Indigenous women and their communities and other underserved populations, such as those who are more at risk of gender-based violence and/or who are facing barriers to accessing support services.
- The promising practices being developed with this funding will help more organizations, such as sexual assault crisis centres, better support population groups that are at the highest risk of experiencing or having experienced violence.
COVID-19 emergency funding for shelters and sexual assault centres
- On March 18, 2020, the Government of Canada announced a COVID-19 Economic Response Plan which includes an investment of up to $50 million to women's shelters and sexual assault centres to help with their capacity to manage or prevent an outbreak in their facilities. Below is the breakdown of the $50 million:
- $30 million to WAGE for violence against women shelters and sexual assault centres across the country;
- $10 million in a contingency fund for organizations most deeply affected by COVID-19; and
- $10 million to Indigenous Services Canada, to the existing network of 46 emergency shelters on reserve and in Yukon to support Indigenous women and children fleeing violence.
- The $40 million investment to WAGE was implemented as follows:
- $20.54 million was provided to Women's Shelters Canada (WSC). They have distributed the funding to over 430 violence against women shelters across the country (excluding Quebec, and Indigenous shelters funded by Indigenous Services Canada)
- $3 million was provided to Canadian Women's Foundation (CWF). They have distributed the funding to over 90 sexual assault centres across the country (excluding Quebec).
- $6.46 million is being distributed by the Government of Quebec to approximately 167 violence against women shelters and sexual assault centres in the province.
- On May 29, 2020, an amendment was signed with the Canadian Women's Foundation for $10 million in contingency funding. This funding is being provided to organizations, beyond shelters and sexual assault centres, providing critical supports and services to women and children fleeing violence. As of June 26, 2020, 42% (150) organizations had registered and 30% (109) had received payment under the contingency fund.
- WAGE has negotiated an additional $2.3 million with the Government of Quebec, pending approval from the Province of Quebec.
Project examples and testimonials
Women's Program project examples:
Atlantic region
- A project that will increase the representation of women in skilled trades in Nova Scotia through the development and implementation of a provincial Gender Equity Plan that is more inclusive and supportive to women obtaining apprenticeship certification. A formal network that will inform policies and practices in the apprenticeship system, and advance gender equality in the sector will also be established to make meaningful progress towards women's economic prosperity by addressing systemic barriers that women experience in trade certification.
- A collaborative project between three organizations to eliminate barriers to women's active participation in the political sphere in Prince Edward Island. Through the project, women, political parties, and community stakeholders are being engaged in the development and implementation of strategies to influence policies and practices that impede women's active participation in democratic life.
Quebec region
- A collaborative project between six organizations to provide municipal institutions with the knowledge, tools, and support to implement structural and policy changes to create more inclusive contexts that foster women's political participation. Approximately 15 regional county municipalities are engaged and working with internal committees in the development and implementation of sustainable action plans and equality policies. Promising practices related to the implementation of equality policies and action plans will be shared throughout the province of Quebec through a partnership with The Fédération québécoise des municipalités, a provincial association representing 91% of municipalities.
- A project to enhance support for women and girl victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) through the implementation and adaptation of coordinated intersectoral approaches. Activities will enable a better understanding of this issue in the six Quebec regions where the greatest numbers of affected women are found, as well as with francophone organizations in Ontario by bringing together stakeholders in the immigration, health and social services, and youth protection sectors to improve prevention, intervention and on-going support for victims.
Ontario region
- A project to strengthen the leadership of Métis women in the Métis Nation of Ontario's governance structure, policies, and practices. Through the development and implementation of a cultural-based gender framework and province-wide strategy, Métis women will be effectively supported in their respective leadership roles to advance the needs of Métis women and girls in the Métis Nation of Ontario.
- A project to improve the tracking and reporting of sexual assaults by authorities through the adaptation of the "Philadelphia model" in Ontario. Through the project, a Canadian-specific case-review model will be implemented to increase police accountability, potentially reduce the number of cases misclassified as "unfounded," and increase reporting rates and trust in the judicial system for sexual assault survivors.
Western region
- A project to increase the recruitment and retention of women in the ICT sector in Manitoba by working to eliminate systemic workplace culture barriers. The project will work with partners to develop and implement a digital economy action plan to advance women's economic success through increased opportunities, resources and supports.
- A project which will raise awareness with men and boys, alongside women and girls, towards action in eliminating gender-based violence in Edmonton, Alberta. In partnership with women's organizations, the CFL, and Edmonton Junior Football, the organization will undertake activities to engage stakeholders to address gender based violence, trafficking, and sexual exploitation in the context of sporting events.
LGBTQ2 Program project examples:
- Egale Canada Human Right Trust received $100,000 for a 12-month project to address organizational capacity needs through expansion of the organization's research capabilities so the organization can become a National LGBTQ2 Research Lab/Hub, thereby ensuring greater accessibility to knowledge, expertise, and best practices in order to address discrimination and oppression experienced by members of the LGBTQ2 community in Canada. Specifically, organizational capacity will be further enhanced through the establishment of a National LGBTQ2 Academic Advisory Council; the development an online research hub; the completion a literature review and conducting research studies on key areas of interest; and, the promotion of the research hub and individual studies and findings via online communication channels. It is expected that through this project, partnerships and collaborations are established and/or strengthened to support the LGBTQ2 movement LGBTQ2 organizations have increased knowledge and capacity to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
- Fierté Canada Pride received $250,000 for a 7-month project to strengthen the organization's foundational structure and network to support the growth and capacity of Pride organizations across the country by engaging them in an asset mapping exercise, developing and launching a 5-year strategic plan, implementing a micro-granting program for small and medium Pride organizations, and providing members with capacity-building support services. Through this project it is anticipated that LGBTQ2 organizations will have increased knowledge and capacity to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
- Enchanté – Rainbow Resource Centre received $700,000 for a 8-month project to support its incorporation and expansion from coast to coast, strengthen its governance, develop and implement a communication strategy, work on partnership development, organize its founding national general meeting and provide micro grants to support the capacity building of LGBTQ2 centres and establishment of other centres across the country. Through this project it is anticipated that LGBTQ2 organizations will have increased knowledge and capacity to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
GBV Program project examples:
- Family Transition Place, in Orangeville, Ontario, is receiving $799,867 over five years for their project entitled "Rural Response Program" to implement promising practices to support survivors and their families. The organization is working to reducing barriers to access to services for women in rural and remote communities through mobile service delivery and increased partnerships between service providers.
- The Indo-Canadian Women's Association, based in Edmonton, is receiving $450,000 to create and pilot an approach for home visitors, such as nurses and Children's Services, to screen for violence when providing services to Indigenous women, newcomers, refugees or non-status women, and ethno-cultural women. The approach is trauma-informed and culturally sensitive to enable women to safely report violence and receive much-needed support services.
- Y des femmes de Montréal (YWCA Montreal) is receiving $850,000 in funding for their project entitled "The Graduation Approach and Gender-Based Violence." The project is adapting and testing the Graduation Approach support model to improve the services available to newly arrived immigrant women who are survivors of gender-based violence, regardless of their legal status. Project activities are helping these women and their families cope with their loss, improve their economic security and develop the ability to be independent within the community.
COVID-19 emergency funding for shelters and sexual assault centres testimonials:
Alice House, NS - Heather Byrne, Executive Director
"The quick receipt of funding from WAGE Canada last month has provided Alice House with vital resources to respond to the increased risk of violence against the women that we are trying so hard to keep safe. This emergency funding also sent us a strong message that in a time of isolation and despair that the federal government understands the current elevated pressure on domestic violence organizations and is there to help."
Saskatoon Interval House, SK - Tanya Wiggins, Executive Director
"Every year our shelter needs to fundraise well over $100,000.00 to keep our doors open. We all know COVID-19 has affected our economy and this causes concern for our shelter. We have already been notified that a few of our major fundraisers have been cancelled. The federal dollars we received will help to close the gap and allow us to continue to offer our programming to families in need.
Another example is in regards to capacity. We have limited the number of families we can accommodate in shelter due to COVID-19. With the Federal dollars, we are able to support families in hotels for a short period of time while we work to find affordable, safe accommodations for them.
Finally, we are now able to purchase equipment and programming to support our clients online. Doing our work differently."
Inasmuch House, ON - Erin Griver, Director of Women's Services
"This time is unprecedented for women's shelters and the violence against women sector. During the COVID crisis, staying at home is not a safe option for everyone. The requirements to stay in place as a Public Health measure unfortunately creates conditions where abusive partners exert greater control, and incidents of violence and threats are escalating. At Inasmuch House, Violence against Women Services and Shelters continue to be available to support women and their children. Crisis lines and emergency shelter services are open 24/7, and we are working hard to ensure that we can continue to offer a safe space and services to women and children. The extra funding to cover the additional costs of running a shelter during a Pandemic has been life saving for these women. As a result of this funding we are able to continue to provide the same supports for women and children experiencing abuse, even during a Pandemic."
Province | Program | Number of agreements | Total amount of funding | % of total funding |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alberta | All programs | 44 | $12,588,384 | 5% |
Women's Program | 40 | $9,408,365 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 4 | $3,180,019 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 0 | $0 | N/A | |
British Columbia | All programs | 84 | $26,649,978 | 10% |
Women's Program | 73 | $19,421,706 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 9 | $6,828,129 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 2 | $400,000 | N/A | |
Manitoba | All programs | 37 | $12,020,007 | 5% |
Women's Program | 34 | $9,320,036 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 2 | $1,999,971 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 1 | $700,000 | N/A | |
New Brunswick | All programs | 24 | $7,091,975 | 3% |
Women's Program | 22 | $5,341,975 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 2 | $1,750,000 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 0 | $0 | N/A | |
Newfoundland and Labrador | All programs | 24 | $7,357,067 | 3% |
Women's Program | 22 | $5,357,067 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 2 | $2,000,000 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 0 | $0 | N/A | |
Nova Scotia | All programs | 23 | $8,520,824 | 3% |
Women's Program | 20 | $5,524,916 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 3 | $2,995,908 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 0 | $0 | N/A | |
Northwest Territories | All programs | 12 | $4,076,686 | 2% |
Women's Program | 11 | $3,076,686 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 1 | $1,000,000 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 0 | $0 | N/A | |
Nunavut | All programs | 6 | $2,336,015 | 1% |
Women's Program | 6 | $2,336,015 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 0 | $0 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 0 | $0 | N/A | |
Ontario* | All programs | 244 | $119,763,446 | 46% |
Women's Program | 221 | $103,568,924 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 20 | $15,494,654 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 3 | $699,868 | N/A | |
Prince Edward Island | All programs | 14 | $3,735,793 | 1% |
Women's Program | 13 | $3,705,793 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 1 | $30,000 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 0 | $0 | N/A | |
Quebec | All programs | 137 | $40,723,603 | 16% |
Women's Program | 125 | $32,430,355 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 11 | $8,043,285 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 1 | $249,963 | N/A | |
Saskatchewan | All programs | 30 | $7,691,509 | 3% |
Women's Program | 28 | $6,167,872 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 2 | $1,523,637 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 0 | $0 | N/A | |
Yukon | All programs | 10 | $4,190,975 | 2% |
Women's Program | 8 | $2,565,975 | N/A | |
Gender-Based Violence Program | 2 | $1,625,000 | N/A | |
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program | 0 | $0 | N/A | |
Total | N/A | 689 | $256,746,262 | N/A |
*Note: Funding distribution in the table is based on the location of the funded organization and does not necessarily reflect the location of the project activities. Most national organizations are located in Ontario, however, national projects have activities in locations across Canada.
Issue: Canada's position on gender indexes
Recommended response
- Canada performs well in global rankings on gender equality, with consistently high scores in the areas of education, and equality under law.
- In the World Economic Forum's latest Global Gender Gap Report:
- Canada placed 1st in North America; and
- Canada placed 19th overall, up 11 places since 2015.
- We know there is still more work to be done,
- this is why the Government of Canada is taking concrete actions to address these concerns including appointing the gender-balanced federal Cabinets, passing pay equity legislation, helping women create and grow their businesses, investing in affordable childcare, making it easier for families to share child care responsibilities, and launching Canada's first ever strategy to prevent and address gender-based violence.
- The Government of Canada is also providing stable, predictable and flexible funding to women's organizations; expanding shelters and transition houses; and providing employment support and newcomer integration supports.
Background
- Many international bodies and civil society organizations use gender indexes to rank countries' progress towards gender equality. This allows countries to see how they are faring compared to others, and where there is room for improvement.
- Overall, Canada performs well in global rankings on gender equality, with consistently high scores in the areas of education, and equality under law. For instance, in 2019, the OECD classified Canada as having a "very low level of discrimination" stemming from formal and informal laws, attitudes and practices that restrict access to rights, justice and empowerment based on gender. Equal rights under law have a notable impact on gender equality in educational attainment, an area where Canada shines. The World Economic Forum's 2020 Global Gender Gap Report (WEF-GGR) ranked Canada 1st (tieing with 24 other countries) out of 153 countries on gender equality in educational attainment and 19th overall in economic participation and opportunity; educational attainment; health; and politics. According to this measure, Canada has closed just over 77% of its overall gender gap, with a narrowing of 3% since 2015.
- The 2020 WEF-GGR ranked Canada three places lower than in 2018, not because we are doing worse, but because we have not kept pace with improvements in other countries. For example, countries such as Spain and Latvia, whose rankings have increased 21 and 6 places since 2018, respectively, have experienced improvements in political representation, which has played a critical role in their advancement in the rankings. Like most countries, Canada has more to do in the areas of equal representation in business and politics; ending gender-based violence; and addressing the gender-wage gap. Other pressing concerns, include unequal access to housing, child care and reproductive health care services.
- The Government of Canada is taking concrete actions to address these concerns including by:
- Assisting working families by increasing the accessibility and affordability of after-school care so that women, who do the majority of care work, can remain attached to the labour force and progress through their careers without penalty;
- Providing historic investments of $100 million per year by 2023, in women's and equality-seeking organizations so that they can continue to provide critical programs and services to women and girls across the country;
- Addressing violence against Indigenous women and girls by implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls' Calls for Justice, in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples;
- Investing in the growth of women-owned businesses through the Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy;
- Renewing the Government's commitment to advancing gender equality by developing a Federal Plan for Gender Equality, built on the Gender Results Framework and other international agreements;
- Renewing the Government's commitment to preventing and addressing gender-based violence by developing a National Action Plan with partners; and
- Providing targeted resources for international development assistance, through the Feminist International Assistance Policy, including investments in education and gender equality.
Issue: Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) forum of Ministers responsible for the status of women ongoing and future engagement
Recommended response
- The Department for Women and Gender Equality works closely with provinces and territories through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women.
- The value and strength of the Department's relations with the provinces and territories through the Forum was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our close collaboration enabled us to address mutual priorities and effectively implement emergency responses, such as the rapid delivery of much-needed federal funding to organizations supporting women and children fleeing violence.
- FPT Ministers are working to develop a three-year strategic plan that will reflect women and gender equality issues of importance for Canadians, including advancing priorities in the context of COVID-19 and the recovery period that will follow.
Background
FPT Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women
- The Department for Women and Gender Equality plays a leadership role in advancing the Government of Canada's priorities on women and gender equality through strong intergovernmental relations. The Department works with provinces and territories through the FPT Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women, established in 1972.
- The federal Minister co-chairs the FPT Forum on a rotational basis with a provincial or territorial counterpart with responsibilities related to the status of women. For 2020, the co-chair is the Honourable Carol Anne Haley, Minister for the Status of Women of Newfoundland and Labrador.
FPT collaboration in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
- From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, WAGE communicated regularly and collaborated closely with PT partners building on the established FPT consultation mechanism, in order to effectively implement emergency responses across Canada.
- Based on WAGE's strong relationships with PT colleagues through the FPT Forum, joint work was facilitated to roll out quickly and effectively the emergency response measures to support women and children fleeing violence across the country. Bilateral discussions with Québec led to an agreement to support women's shelters and sexual assault centers located in that province.
FPT Forum strategic plan 2020-2024
- In recent years, the FPT Ministers responsible for the Status of Women have worked closely together to ensure that the Forum be more strategic and become a strong FPT table that leverages tangible change to advance current and emerging issues regarding women and gender equality.
- FPT Ministers are working to develop a three-year Strategic Plan to reflect the ongoing and emerging priorities of the Forum.
FPT ministerial meetings in 2020
- Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions and physical distancing measures across the country, the FPT Forum had to revisit its planning of meetings in 2020. At this time, the format, location, and dates, including a pre-meeting with National Indigenous Leaders and Representatives, have yet to be confirmed.
Issue: United Nations Commission of the Status of Women (UNCSW) 64th session
Recommended response
- The 64th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women was scheduled to take place from March 9 to 20, 2020.
- The primary focus of the meeting was to review progress and mark the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all the UN Commission on the Status of Women events and as a result a procedural meeting on March 9, 2020 and all other elements of the session, including side events were cancelled.
- Canada looks forward to continue engaging in this important forum to advance gender equality with our partners and the international community.
- We also look forward to additional opportunities throughout 2020 to engage with our partners to maintain the Beijing+25 momentum, including in the lead up to the Generation Equality Forum to be launched next year.
Background
- Women and Gender Equality Canada leads, in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada, preparations for Canada's participation in the annual session of the UNCSW. The Canadian delegation to UNCSW is led by the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and typically comprises of federal, provincial, and territorial officials; parliamentarians; representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs); as well national Indigenous leaders, representatives and youth.
- In 2017, Canada began serving as a member of the Commission, a position that will be held until 2021. Consequently, Canada now has formal voting power and increased visibility at UNCSW's annual working session.
- In preparation for the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, Canada and other UN Member States prepared and submitted National Review Reports on their progress in implementing the Platform for Action's recommendations. Women and Gender Equality Canada led the development of Canada's National Review Report, with input from other federal government departments and the provincial and territorial governments. Canada's report was submitted to the UN in Summer 2019.
- The 64th Session of the UNCSW (UNCSW 64) was scheduled to take place from March 9 to 20 at the UN Headquarters in New York. This year's session was to focus on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. 2020 marks the 25th anniversary of this important global gender equality policy framework (Beijing+25).
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UNCSW held a one-day procedural meeting on March 9, 2020. All other elements of UNCSW 64, including side events, high-level dialogues, and panel discussions, were cancelled. This meeting allowed Member States to deliver opening statements and adopt a Political Declaration reaffirming their commitment to continue the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The Political Declaration was negotiated in advance of the session and was consulted upon with Canadian civil society. The adoption of the next Multi-year Program of Work, has been indefinitely postponed.
- The UNCSW 64 was intended to be the first high-level commemorative event for Beijing+25 this year. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all the planned international celebrations around Beijing +25. For example, the Generation Equality Forum (organized by UN Women, France, and Mexico), which seeks to accelerate progress on gender equality through concrete actions, was also postponed to 2021.
- Preparations for UNCSW 65 and the Generation Equality Forum should offer opportunities for Canada to meaningfully engage with its partners, both domestic and international, to advance gender equality in this important year and beyond.
Issue: Evidence on the state of gender equality in Canada
Recommended response
- Achieving gender equality and addressing gender-based violence requires that we invest in research, monitor emerging data, and support evidence-based decisions.
- Recent data show progress for women in areas such as political representation, labour force participation, hourly wages, and representation in apprenticeships. For example:
- As of February 17, 2020, women account for 29% of Members of Parliament (MPs), up 2% over the previous Parliament; and
- In 2019, women earned an average 88 cents for every dollar earned by men. This reflects a 1% reduction in the gender wage gap since 2018 and a 2% reduction in the gender wage gap since 2015, based on the average hourly earnings of all workers.
- But the data also show that we need to keep pressing forward so that we see women adequately represented across fields and in leadership roles.
Background
- WAGE is investing in research with partners across sectors, so that we can better understand gender inequalities and the factors that impede progress. Some recent highlights have shed light on factors related to the gender wage gap, gendered educational pathways, caregiving and mental health:
- A report released by Statistics Canada showed that gender differences in part-time work and industry were the two largest factors explaining the gender wage gap in average hourly wages in 2018. Meanwhile, the narrowing of the gap between 1998 and 2018 was largely explained by changes in the distribution of men and women across occupations; women's increased educational attainment; and the decline in the share of men in unionized employment.
- A Statistics Canada article published in December 2019, showed that women accounted for 13.6% of all new apprenticeship registrations in Canada, up from 6.8% in 1991. Moreover, women have been increasingly enrolling in apprenticeship programs traditionally occupied by men, with 18.5% of women who entered into apprenticeship programs in 2018 registering as in automotive services and as electricians, carpenters, welders, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, up almost 4 percentage points since 2008. Despite this progress, in 2015, women apprentices were nine times more likely than men to report harassment or discrimination during an apprenticeship.
- A recent Statistics Canada article showed that the majority (54%) of caregivers in Canada were women in 2018. Among caregivers, women (32%) were more likely than men (28%) to report having unmet caregiving needs. Overall, unmet caregiving needs were associated with a lower level of well-being, including feeling dissatisfied with life (32%), experiencing daily stress (36%), and fair or poor mental health (23%).
- An article published by Statistics Canada in November 2019 underlined the poorer mental health of sexual minority groups in Canada, vis-à-vis heterosexual people. In 2015, homosexual (19%) and bisexual (40%) people were more likely than heterosexual people to have been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder or to have experienced thoughts of suicide (5%, 13%, and 2%, respectively) in the previous year.
- Working with Statistics Canada, WAGE invested roughly $17 million to develop and implement three new surveys on experiences of gender-based violence in Canada including in public and privates spaces, online, at work, and in the postsecondary student population.
- The first results from the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces were released in December 2019 filling in some data gaps. Results from the Survey on Individual Safety in the Postsecondary Student Population are expected to be published in 2020, and results from the Survey on Sexual Misconducts at Work went into data collection in February 2020 and should be released in 2021.
- Using roughly $9.6 million of funding from It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-based Violence, Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) funded Statistics Canada (STC) to develop the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces (SSPPS); the first national survey dedicated to measuring self-reported experiences of gender-based violence (GBV) in Canada.
- The SSPPS fills important data gaps. Initial findings from the SSPPS were released on December 5, 2019, and key findings based on provincial data include:
- An estimated 4.7 million women have experienced a sexual assault in their lifetime (since age 15), accounting for 30% of women living in the provinces. In contrast, 8% of men experienced the same.
- In the 12 months preceding the survey, 3% of women and 1% of men experienced a sexual assault.
- In the 12 months preceding the survey, 32% of women and 13% of men experienced one or more unwanted sexual behaviours in public spaces that made them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Among these people, half of women (52%) and nearly half of men (46%) reported having changed their behaviour due to their experience.
- Odds of experiencing unwanted sexual behaviours in public in the 12 months preceding the survey was about three times higher for gay (38%) and bisexual (42%) men than for heterosexual men (13%).
- Experience of online harassment in the 12 months preceding the survey was reported by 18% of women and 14% of men. Women were more likely than men to have taken measures to protect themselves online, such as deleting accounts (28% versus 19%).
Issue: Gender Results Framework
Recommended response
- In support of the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act, the Government of Canada introduced a Gender Results Framework to guide future decision making on policies and programs, including budget decisions, which are responsive to the diverse needs of people in Canada.
- The Framework represents the Government of Canada's goals with respect to gender equality, how we will get there, and how we will measure success under 6 pillars:
- education and skills development;
- economic participation and prosperity;
- leadership and democratic participation;
- gender-based violence and access to justice;
- poverty reduction, health and well-being; and,
- gender equality around the world.
- The Gender Results Framework online platform was launched in March 2019 to provide up-to-date information to Canadians on results.
- The Government of Canada has renewed its commitment to a Federal Plan for Gender Equality, a strategy built on the Gender Results Framework and other international agreements. The Federal Plan will articulate what actions are to be taken in order to achieve the goals and objectives of the Framework.
Background
- In 2018, The Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) worked with the Department of Finance Canada, Global Affairs Canada and other departments to develop a whole-of-government Gender Results Framework to inform all departmental initiatives. This framework was released in Budget 2018.
- The Framework represents the Government of Canada's goals with respect to gender equality, how we will get there, and how we will measure success under six pillars: education and skills; economic participation and prosperity; leadership and democratic participation; gender-based violence and access to justice; poverty reduction, health and well-being; and, gender equality around the world.
- Each pillar is supported by relevant objectives and indicators for monitoring progress towards Canada's gender equality goals. In total, the Framework contains 35 objectives and 43 indicators, which were selected through consultation with other federal departments, by reviewing international and domestic best practices, and by consolidating these with Canada's international commitments, specifically the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Indicator Framework and the Beijing Platform for Action. In fact, in May 2019, Canada's National Review of the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was structured against the 6 pillars of the Gender Results Framework.
- Through Budget 2018, the government is providing a total of funding of $25 million over 5 years and $5 million per year ongoing, beginning in fiscal year 2018-19, to support research and data collection for the Gender Results Framework.
- This funding also allows WAGE to support more robust GBA+, better policy advice to other government departments and more informed decision making across the federal government. This is achieved by increasing the evidence base for gender equality through research and data collection, knowledge translation, evaluation and impact measurement, and by supporting interdepartmental coordination, monitoring and reporting of an evidence-based approach to advancing gender equality, as described in the Framework.
- With Budget 2019, WAGE launched a website outlining the framework and including up-to-date sources of data for each of the Gender Results Framework indicators. As a complement to the framework, links to key Governments of Canada initiatives (announced in Budget 2018 and 2019) that are contributing to the advancement of gender equality have also been included on the website. This public facing tool allows for regular tracking of progress against each of the goals.
- In October 2018, Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers responsible for the Status of Women identified 32 common indicators from the Gender Results Framework that will be used to monitor progress related to collaboration of Federal-Provincial-Territorial work.
Issue: 2020-21 Department budget overview
Recommended response
- The Government of Canada is taking action to advance gender equality and address persistent gender inequalities that affect all Canadians.
- To support the Department for Women and Gender Equality in its strengthened mandate and continue to advance gender equality in Canada, Budget 2019 invested $160 million over 5 years, starting in 2019-20 and funding of $20 million over three years for capacity building and community level work of Canadian LGBTQ2 organizations.
- The Department for Women and Gender Equality will receive $169.8 million in fiscal year 2020-21 including $119.4 million in Grants and Contributions.
- Since 2015, the Government has made investing in the vital work of grassroots and community organizations a priority.
- In 2020-21, the Department's budget for Grants and Contributions to support the work of equality-seeking organizations is more than four times what it was in 2015-16.
- This is the result of investments in new programming, including the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Commemoration Fund, the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund, the Gender-Based Violence Program, the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, capacity-building funding for women's organizations, as well as increasing the Women's Program.
Background
- Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates are part of the normal parliamentary approval process to ensure that previously planned government initiatives receive the necessary funding to move them forward, therefore meeting the needs of Canadians.
- The 2020-21 Department Budget Overview includes the Supplementary Estimates (A) adjustments.
- The total funding of $169.8 million to be received in 2020-21 relate to:
- Increase Capacity and Sustainability of the Women's Movement ($73.9 million)
- Grants and Contributions to support Women's shelters and sexual assault centres pursuant to the Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act ($30 million)
- Gender-Based Violence against women and girls ($22.7 million)
- Emergency response measures to Canadians: COVID-19 ($10 million)
- LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund ($9.6 million)
- Advancing Gender Equality Budget 2019 ($8.9 million)
- Evidence-based Policy to advancing gender equality and undertake research and data collection to support Gender-based Analysis Plus ($4.1 million)
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls ($3.4 million)
- National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking ($2.6 million)
- Other Adjustments ($0.1 million)
- Statutory funding (Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) and Minister's salary & car allowance $4.5 million)
Budget categories | 2020-21 funding | ||
---|---|---|---|
Main Estimates | Supps A | Total | |
Operating expenditures | $45.9 million | 0 | $45.9 million |
Grants and contributions | $79.4 million | $10.0 million | $89.4 million |
Statutory: Grants and contributions | 0 | $30.0 million | $30.0 million |
Statutory: EBP, salary and car allowance | $4.5 million | 0 | 4.5 million |
Total Funding | $129.8 million | $40.0 million | $169.8 million* |
*Total amounts have been rounded.
- In 2015-16, compared to Main Estimates, the Department's Grants and Contributions budget was $19.5 million. Through a number of investments, it has increased each year, reaching $79.4 million in 2020-21. Some investments are ongoing, such as for the Gender-Based Violence Program and the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, while others are time-limited, such as investments under the Women's Program and the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund.
Issue: 2020-21 Supplementary estimates (A)
Recommended response
- The Government of Canada is taking action to protect our economy, and the health, safety, and jobs of all Canadians during the COVID-19 outbreak.
- This is why, as part of the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Government of Canada announced up to $40 million to be delivered through Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) for women and children fleeing gender-based violence.
- Through Supplementary Estimates A, the Department for Women and Gender Equality has received $10 million in Grants and Contributions for emergency response measures to Canadians for COVID-19.
Background
- Supplementary Estimates are part of the normal parliamentary approval process to ensure that previously planned government initiatives receive the necessary funding to move them forward, therefore meeting the needs of Canadians.
- The 2020-21 Supplementary Estimates (A) were tabled in Parliament on June 2, 2020.
- This is the first Supplementary Estimates to be published in 2020-21 and, as such, is identified as Supplementary Estimates (A). The Appropriation Act received Royal Assent on June 26, 2020. This will provide federal organizations with additional funding needed early in the fiscal year.
- The Department will receive $10 million in Grants and Contributions (Gs&Cs) funding via Supps A. This $10 million represents the remainder of the previously announced $40M to support women and children fleeing gender-based violence.
- Since the $10 million was required prior to the approval of Supplementary Estimates A, WAGE was loaned $10 million from the Treasury Board (TB) Vote 5 Government Contingencies fund. The $10 million to be received from Supps A were used to reimburse that loan.
- The $30 million in statutory funding received by WAGE to support women's shelters and sexual assault centres pursuant to the Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act is presented for information purposes only.
- Now that Supps A have received Royal Assent, WAGE's Gs&Cs funding will reflect the entire $40 million it was allocated.
- Since the onset of the pandemic, WAGE has worked with provincial and territorial counterparts and stakeholders across the country to ensure that this funding is distributed to organizations as quickly as possible.
- To date, $30 million of this funding has addressed the immediate needs of nearly 700 women's shelters and sexual assault centres from coast to coast to coast.
Main estimates 2015-16 to 2019-20
Budget categories | 2020-21 | 2019-20 | 2018-19 | 2017-18 | 2016-17 | 2015-16 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operating | 45.9 | 47.4 | 41.6 | 22.1 | 14.2 | 10.4 |
Grants & Contributions | 89.4 | 65.8 | 29.3 | 20.8 | 20.6 | 19.5 |
Statutory | 34.5 | 4.5 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.3 |
Total budgetary | 169.8 | 117.7 | 73.7 | 44.7 | 36.3 | 31.2 |
Variance Operating % | -3% | 14% | 88% | 55% | 38% | n/a |
Variance G&C % | 36% | 125% | 41% | 1% | 6% | n/a |
Variance Statutory % | 667% | 59% | 62% | 20% | 15% | n/a |
Variance Total % | 44% | 60% | 65% | 23% | 17% | n/a |
The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO)
The Standing Committee on the Status of Women's mandate gives it the broad authority to study the policies, programs, expenditures (budgetary estimates) and legislation of departments and agencies, including the Department for Women and Gender Equality, that conduct work related to the status of women and gender equality.
In the 42nd Parliament, for instance, the committee tabled substantive reports on the following themes:
- the implementation of gender-based analysis plus at the federal level
- violence against women, sexual harassment in the Canadian Armed Forces
- shelters and transition houses available to women experiencing violence
- women's economic security
- senior women's experiences of poverty and vulnerability
- Indigenous women's experiences in the federal justice and correctional systems
- women's representation in politics
Two pieces of legislation were also referred to the committee in the 42nd Parliament: Bill C-309, An Act to Establish Gender Equality Week; and Bill C-337, An Act to Amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code (Sexual Assault). As well, each fiscal year, the committee examined the main estimates and the supplementary estimates of Status of Women Canada/ The Department for Women and Gender Equality.
During their first meeting of the 43rd parliament, members agreed that witnesses who appear before the committee would have ten minutes to make opening statements, followed by a question and answer period. Questions will proceed in the following order:
Round 1: 6 minutes each, Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), Liberal Party of Canada (LPC), Bloc Quebecois (BQ), New Democratic Party (NDP)
Round 2: 5 minutes each, CPC, LPC, CPC, LPC, then 2.5 minutes each, BQ, NDP
The committee also elected Ms. Karen Vecchio (CPC) as Chair, Ms. Sonia Sidhu (LPC) as Vice-Chair and Ms. Andréanne Larouche (BQ) as Second Vice-Chair.
FEWO members
Liberal Party of Canada
Salma Zahid: returning member (Liberal)
Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre, Salma Zahid was first elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019.
She holds a Masters in Educational Management and Administration from the University of London's Institute of Education, and an MBA from Quaid e Azam University in Pakistan. A Pakistani Canadian, Ms. Zahid has resided in Scarborough since 2000 and has worked to bring people of different communities together through initiatives such as the Scarborough Centre Multi-faith Council. Prior to being elected to Parliament, Ms. Zahid worked as a senior advisor to the Government of Ontario in a number of portfolios from Health and Long Term Care, Infrastructure, Citizenship and Immigration, and Tourism, Culture and Sports. She is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Since entering Parliament, Ms. Zahid has worked to raise awareness of the oppression of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar and other oppressed persons around the world, and pressed the government to take a leadership role in providing humanitarian assistance. In the 42nd Parliament, she was a member of the Standing Committee on Immigration and Citizenship. Through that committee, interventions in the House, and on her social media platforms, she continues to advocate for cultural and religious diversity. Ms. Zahid was elected chair of that committee in the 43rd parliament. Her private members motion M-155, designating June as Filipino Heritage Month across Canada, was unanimously passed by the House of Commons. Following treatment for Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma that brought her closer to her Islamic faith, she became the first Member to wear a hijab in the House of Commons.
Ms. Zahid served as the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women during the 42nd Parliament. She is a strong advocate for gender equality and focuses specifically on racialized and newcomer women.
Anju Dhillon: new member (Liberal)
First elected in 2015, Anju Dhillon was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for the Quebec riding Dorval-Lachine-LaSalle in 2019.
Born and raised in Montreal, Ms. Dhillon began her political career volunteering for Paul Martin's campaigns at age thirteen. She sat on the Executive Council of the LaSalle-Emard Federal Liberal Electoral District Association in various positions such as Youth Vice-President, Vice-President Female, Secretary, and Policy Officer. Before joining the House of Commons, Ms. Dhillon earned an Honours Bachelor Degree in Political Science from Concordia University, a Bachelor of Law from Université de Montréal, a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Laws Degrees from Université de Sherbrooke. She was the first Canadian Sikh to practice law in Quebec.
In the House of Commons, Ms. Dhillon was a member of several Standing Committees, including Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, Scrutiny of Regulations, and Canadian Heritage. She also belonged to the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, the Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association and the Canada-China Legislative Association. In these roles, in the House of Commons, and through her social media presence, she has spoken several times on the sustainable communities and affordable housing. Since the 2019 election, she has become a member of the Status of Women Committee and the Citizenship and Immigration Committee; she remains a member of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association.
From 2015 to 2017, Ms. Dhillon was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Status of Women. She has taken a strong stance against gender-based violence and intimate partner violence. She also studied Gender Parity on the Boards and Senior Leadership Levels of Canadian Artistic and Cultural Organizations with the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. At these meetings, she stressed the need for intersectionality and consideration of marginalized women.
Marc Serré: returning member (Liberal)
Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt, Ontario, Marc G. Serré was elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019.
Son of former Liberal Member of Parliament Gaetan Serré and nephew of former Liberal Member of Parliament Ben Serré, Marc Serré was born into a family tradition of politics. He is a proud member of the Algonquin First Nation in Mattawa/North Bay and a proud francophone. Before joining the House of Commons, Mr. Serré graduated from Laurentian University with an Honours Bachelor in Commerce with a specialization in Human Resources and Marketing. He is an award-wining telecom technologist specializing in research and development who founded the family run internet provider PhoneNet and received the Canadian CANARIE IWAY Award in recognition of his innovative and outstanding achievements in Internet adaptive technology. He was also the Northern Eastern Ontario Regional Director of the Canadian Hearing Society, a staff and faculty member at College Boreal and Cambrian College, and the North Eastern Ontario Managing Director at Eastlink. Mr. Serré served as a trustee at the Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO) and was also a Municipal Counsellor in West Nipissing.
In Parliament, he has been involved in several Standing Committees, Caucus and Parliamentary Associations including: the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Chair of the National Rural Liberal Caucus, and Chair of Northern Ontario Liberal Caucus. Mr. Serré has demonstrated his advocacy for increased rural infrastructure, affordable housing, accessibility, and seniors in and outside the House of Commons. His motion M-106, calling on the federal government to develop Canada's first National Senior Strategy, was successfully passed in the House of Commons in May 2017.
Mr. Serré was a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women during the 42nd parliament. Corresponding to his previous career and the riding he represents, Mr. Serré has expressed interest in women in STEM, Indigenous women, senior women, and rural women.
Sonia Sidhu: Vice-Chair and returning member (Liberal)
Satinderpal "Sonia" Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South, was elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019.
Born in India, Ms. Sidhu immigrated to Winnipeg in 1992, where she worked as small business owner, entrepreneur, and Cardiac Technologist in Victoria Hospital. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a certificate in Diabetes Education from The Michener Institute. Ms. Sidhu worked in the healthcare profession in Brampton South for fifteen years, focusing on diabetes research and education.
Since entering the House in 2015, Ms. Sidhu has strongly advocated for healthcare. She was a member of the Standing Committee on Health and advised on eighteen different reports, including the report recommending the implementation of a national pharamacare plan and the report on drinking water standards. Her report "Defeating Diabetes," for which she crossed the country to consult with experts, was presented to the Minister of Health in 2019. Ms. Sidhu also frequently speaks about the issues faced by seniors and has worked to improve the infrastructure and employment rates in her riding.
In the 42nd parliament, Ms. Sidhu sat on the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. She was also a member of the Special Committee on Pay Equity. In Committee meetings, in the House of Commons, and through her social media, Ms. Sidhu has expressed particular interest in senior women, women in politics, pay equity, and women's health. She has highlighted the need for intersectionality when discussing women's issues and empowerment.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Sidhu has continued to focus on health, including long-term care homes and healthcare accessibility. She has also spoken about investments in organizations that support the homeless, specifically women fleeing domestic violence who are now being housed in hotels.
Gudie Hutchings: Parliamentary Secretary (non-voting member)
Gudrid "Gudie" Hutchings was elected as the Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains, Newfoundland in 2015 and re-elected in 2019. She is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development.
The daughter of Arthur Lundrigan, a Canadian businessman and political adviser, Ms. Hutchings was raised in the Humber Valley. She attended Acadia University and built her career as a small-business owner in the tourism industry. She spent more than ten years on the board of the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association – rising to the position of president, and served on the inaugural national board of the Canadian Federation of Outfitting Associations. She is also a former president of the Corner Brook Chamber of Commerce.
Since joining the House of Commons, Ms. Hutchings has prioritized the needs of her constituents. She is proud to hail from the Atlantic Provinces and frequently speaks about issues that affect Eastern Canada. She has advocated for investments in the fishing industry, rural infrastructure projects, and highlighted the national parks and historic sites in her riding. Ms. Hutchings was also the Parliamentary Secretary for Small Businesses and Tourism from 2015 to 2017. She utilized her experience as a business owner to highlight the work that has been done to lower taxes, invest in, and promote small businesses.
In the previous parliament, Ms. Hutchings spoke several times on the subject of women and gender equality. The two issues she highlights most frequently are women entrepreneurs and Indigenous women. She often promotes the work of women's organizations in her riding and frequently meets with Indigenous organizations and leaders in Atlantic Canada.
Conservative Party of Canada
Karen Vecchio: Chair, Conservative critic, and returning member
Conservative Member of Parliament and Opposition Critic for Women and Gender Equality, Karen Vecchio, was elected to represent the riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London in the 2015 federal election. She was re-elected in 2019 with fifty percent of the vote.
Raised in Sparta, Ontario, Ms. Vecchio attended the University of Western Ontario and graduated from the dental health program at Georgian College. Before being elected to the House of Commons, she worked for Member of Parliament Joe Preston from 2004 to 2015. Prior to this, she owned and operated the café 'Coffee Grind' in London, Ontario. Ms. Vecchio is involved within her community as a volunteer and a leader working with the Talbot Teen Centre, Habitat for Humanity, St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce, and Rogers Community TV.
In the previous parliament, Ms. Vecchio served as the Opposition Critic for Families, Children, and Social Development, as well as Chair of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. She stood in the election to serve as the Chair of FEWO reluctantly, preferring her colleague Rachel Harder. Liberal and New Democratic Members did not allow Ms. Harder to take on the role of Chair because of her pro-life beliefs. Ms. Vecchio has previously stated that she is pro-choice and aims to focus on "ensuring the government is doing everything it can in the fight against the disgusting practice of human trafficking, as well as maximizing opportunities and support for women who are survivors of violence and abuse" in her new role. She has made many statements against the porn industry and equating sex work to human trafficking. Ms. Vecchio has also confirmed she believes being gay is not a choice.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Vecchio has made several statements related to Women and Gender Equality in committee. Frequently she has questioned where funding such as the $75 million for human trafficking has gone, since some organizations, specifically the London Abused Women's Centre, have not received funding. She has also expressed her concerns about increased rates of domestic violence, women losing their jobs and returning to work, and GBA+ analysis on COVID-19 initiatives.
Jag Sahota: Conservative Deputy critic and new member
Conservative Member of Parliament Jagdeep Sahota was elected to represent the riding of Calgary Skyview in the 2019 federal election with 52% of the vote. She previously ran in the 2015 Alberta provincial election for the riding of Calgary-McCall, losing to New Democrat Irfan Sabir.
Born and raised in a Sikh family in Calgary, Alberta, Ms. Sahota attended Lester B. Pearson High School and is described as "a longstanding pillar of the Calgary community." In 2003 she graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and psychology, then completed her Juris Doctor, again at the University of Calgary, in 2007. Since being called to the Alberta Bar in 2008, she has gained extensive legal experience, especially in immigration law, while operating her own law practice in Calgary's north east area.
Ms. Sahota has also been actively involved in many different organizations in the Calgary community such as Calgary Peter Lougheed Hospital and Renfrew Educational Services, focusing specifically on bridging the gap between younger and older generations. She has also volunteered at organizations supporting women, such as the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association, and the Elizabeth Fry Society.
As a new member of parliament, her record on issues relating to Women and Gender Equality is not extensive. However, her first time rising in the House of Commons was to question and oppose the Prime Minister on his comments describing the negative gendered impacts of male construction workers in rural areas, in light of the high unemployment rate for young men in Alberta. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she has also advocated for pregnant women who are experiencing difficulty with EI or CERB benefits and for the use of GBA+ analysis on all government programs.
Raquel Dancho: new member (Conservative)
Raquel Dancho is the newly-elected Member of Parliament for the riding of Kildonan-St. Paul, Manitoba.
Born into a family with a long history of farming and small business, Ms. Dancho was raised in Beausejour, Manitoba and attended a French-bilingual high school. She was the first of her family to attend university. After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at McGill, she earned a competitive research internship at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy in Winnipeg. She then began her career within the Manitoba Government; Ms. Dancho worked for several years with the Progressive Conservative Party, while they were the Opposition and Government. She held several positions including Policy Analyst, Executive Assistant to the Minister of Sustainable Development, Special Assistant to the Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage, and Candidate in the 2016 Manitoba provincial election. Prior to the election, she ran her own consulting business that provides policy research and web development services to the private sector. As a result of her academic and political career, Ms. Dancho gained first-hand knowledge of the mechanics of government and uses her professional media training and public speaking experience to target millennial voters specifically.
In the 43rd parliament, Ms. Dancho was named Opposition Critic to the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth. Her first speech in the House of Commons outlined her priorities as: "the inclusion of ethnically and racially diverse Canadians, freedom and equality of LGBTQ Canadians and a free, prosperous and healthy future for Canada's youth." Her social media confirms this stance, as Ms. Dancho posts frequently about LGBTQ+ initiatives, indigenous issues, and the problems experienced by Canadian youth. She also regularly posts expressing her alliance with other Conservative women candidates and Members of Parliament.
Ms. Dancho's priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic have been: support for workers in women-dominated care occupations, cuts in funding to organizations that combat human trafficking, women's unemployment, maternity benefits during the pandemic, and opening another WAGE office in Manitoba.
Alice Wong: returning member (Conservative)
Current Opposition Critic for Seniors, and previous Minister of State for Seniors, The Honourable Alice Wong has served as the Member of Parliament for Richmond and Richmond-Centre since 2008.
After immigrating to Canada from Hong Kong in 1980, Mrs. Wong taught English as a Second Language and Entrepreneurship at Vancouver Community College. She also started the Centre for Small Business at Vancouver Community College, which offered the first bilingual small business management classes for immigrants. Mrs. Wong then completed her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of British Columbia in 1993 and joined Kwantlen Polytechnic University, becoming the Manager of International Programs. She has also aided her husband in running his family business and operated a consulting firm specializing in research and education.
In Parliament, Alice Wong has been a member of several Standing Committees and Interparliamentary Groups, this includes: the Library of Parliament Committee, the Citizenship and Immigration Committee, the Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and Status of Persons with Disabilities Committee and the Canada-China Legislative Association. Her priorities in and outside the House of Commons have included elder abuse, fraud against seniors, illegal border crossers, and birth tourism.
Mrs. Wong sat on the Standing Committee on the Status of Women during the 40th parliament. During this time, the Committee studied Maternal and Child Health, Increasing the Participation of Women in Non-Traditional Occupations, and Violence against Aboriginal Women. Mrs. Wong also frequently speaks about immigrant women and women who are small-business owners in the House of Commons.
New Democratic Party
Lindsay Mathyssen: NDP critic and new member
Lindsay Mathyssen, Member of Parliament for London-Fanshawe, Ontario, was elected in the 2019 federal election and subsequently named NDP Critic for Women and Gender Equality.
As the daughter of former NDP Member of Parliament Irene Mathyssen, who held the same seat in parliament from 2006 to 2019, Lindsay Mathyssen has been involved in politics since the 1990 federal election. She has worked as a political staffer since 2007, most recently for former MP Tracey Ramsey. She therefore has experience drafting legislation, navigating federal programs and departments, and working on files such as International Human Rights, Seniors Issues, Indigenous Affairs, and Anti-harassment protocol. Ms. Mathyssen also holds a Bachelor's Degree and Professional Certificate in Non-For-Profit Management. As a union leader, she has helped to negotiate a collective agreement and has been involved in conflict management.
Following her election, Ms. Mathyssen was given the profiles of Critic for Women and Gender Equality, Deputy Whip, Critic for Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, and Deputy Critic for Export Promotion and International Trade, and Small Business. Following her mother's legacy, Ms. Mathyssen has stressed New Democratic priorities of pharmacare, affordable cell phone and internet fees, and stronger public services. She also plans to focus on the housing crisis experienced by individuals in her riding during her time in the House of Commons.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Mathyssen has stressed the importance of consistent and reliable funding for women's organizations instead of project-based funding. She has also asked questions and made statements on: affordable childcare, paid domestic violence leave, pay inequality and safety for front-line female-dominated occupations, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and support for rural women and women with disabilities.
Bloc Quebecois
Andréanne Larouche: Vice-Chair, BQ critic, and new member
Bloc Quebecois Member of Parliament for the riding of Shefford, Andréanne Larouche, was elected in the 2019 federal election.
Ms. Larouche studied art and media technology at Cégep de Jonquiére and has always been engaged locally, sitting on the board of directors for the Ecosphere Group and the Sutton Museum of Communications and History. While this is her first time in the House of Commons, Ms. Larouche holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Sherbrooke in applied politics, and worked for the former Member of Parliament for Brome-Missisquoi, Christian Ouellet and Member of Quebec's National Assembly, Marie Bouillé. She was also a project manager for Alternative Justice and Mediation, raising awareness on elder abuse.
Ms. Larouche was appointed as the Bloc Quebecois Critic for Women and Gender Equality and Critic for Seniors. Despite her lack of experience as a Member of Parliament, she has identified several priorities for her time in the House, including affordable housing, seniors, and healthcare. Ms. Larouche's maiden speech in the House of Commons was on the topic of the anti-feminist attack at École Polytechnique, advocating for stricter gun control to protect women against such violence.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Larouche has focused on senior women, women in essential services, and the ability for women to access help. Like other members of the Bloc Quebecois, she has advocated for increased health and social transfers to Quebec as she believes many of these issues are best resolved by the province.
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