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Minister for Women and Gender Equality's appearance at the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO)

February 27, 2020

The Deputy Minister was also present and received the binder for this parliamentary committee appearance.

On this page

Opening remarks

Madam Chair,

Thank you for inviting me to join you today.

Before I begin 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 Supplementary Estimates B for the Department for Women and Gender Equality or Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE).

It's my first time back to this important committee since the last election, and I must say I am thrilled to return to this portfolio and to continue in my role as Minister for Women and Gender Equality. I am also proud and excited to take on a new role as Minister for Rural Economic Development.

I would like to congratulate you, Madam Chair, on returning in your important role leading this Standing Committee on the Status of Women. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the returning members and to the newly appointed members. I am looking forward to working with all of you.

Systemic change

When the Prime Minister re-appointed me as Minister for Women and Gender Equality last fall, he entrusted me with the mission of driving systemic change that promotes a fairer and more productive society for women, LGBTQ2 and gender diverse people by improving their quality of life, advancing leadership and ending gender-based violence.

To drive such systemic change, gender and equality considerations need to shape all policies across all government institutions. And we are doing this by applying Gender-based Analysis Plus or GBA+ to the design and implementation of all policies, programs and services.

Applying GBA+ and promoting a greater understanding of the intersection of sex and gender, and how various identity factors impact the effectiveness of government initiatives, will result in more responsive federal policies and programs that systematically consider the diverse needs of all Canadians.

Gender indexes

Before going any further, I must point out that our report card for gender equality is a good one. We just have to take a look at Canada's position on gender indexes.

You see, 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 example, in 2019, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 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.

As well, Canada shines in the area of equal rights under law, which have a notable impact on gender equality in educational attainment.

In fact, the World Economic Forum's 2020 Global Gender Gap Report ranked Canada 19th, which means we have improved 11 spaces in this index since 2015.

Madam Chair, we know that more work needs to be done, but we also know that we are on the right track.

Gender equality

Gender inequality has a very real impact on people of all genders, and everyone has a part to play in this conversation, including men and boys, not just as allies for women, girls and non-binary people, but also because they too will benefit from a more inclusive society.

That is why $1.8 million was announced in Budget 2018, to invest in WAGE to inform federal efforts to engage men and boys in gender equality.

Gender-based violence

To achieve gender equality, we must also address gender-based violence.

As you know, the Government of Canada is doing so through Canada's first-ever strategy to prevent and address all forms of gender-based violence, which we launched in 2017.

This whole-of-government Strategy invests over $200 million in federal initiatives to prevent gender-based violence, support survivors and their families, and promote responsive legal and justice systems.

Among other actions, we are working to prevent teen dating violence, enhancing and developing preventative bullying and cyberbullying initiatives, and equipping health professionals to provide care to survivors that meets their needs.

Our actions are having a positive impact on the everyday lives of Canadians and their ability to feel safe. For example, to ensure that women and girls fleeing violence have a place to go, we created or repaired 7,000 shelter spaces.

In the fall, the Prime Minister asked me to make additional investments, with the support of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, to build on the foundation laid by the Strategy.

He requested that we move forward to develop a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, with a focus on ensuring that anyone experiencing gender-based violence has reliable and timely access to protection and services.

Now, let's move on to the adjustments we are seeking for 2019-20.

Adjustments

Through the Supplementary Estimates B, WAGE is requesting two adjustments.

First, as part of the $1.8 million to develop an engagement strategy for men and boys, we are requesting to move existing funds in Operating Expenditures to Grants and Contributions to support organizations working to engage men and boys. We are talking about organizations that are piloting innovative, targeted approaches to addressing inequality.

Across Canada there are thousands of men and boys joining the cause for gender equality; men working to achieve equality in the workplace, young men and boys learning about consent and healthy relationships, and academics researching evidence-based approaches to gender equality. We must continue to "call men in" to the movement for gender equality.

A transfer in the amount of $297,865 would allow WAGE to support projects from four organizations, including the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters, Catalyst Canada, FOXY and NextGen Men with the University of Calgary.

The work of these four organizations will help to achieve progress towards safe, inclusive workplaces, healthy relationships, and supportive communities.

The second adjustment WAGE is requesting through the Supplementary Estimates B is for a transfer of $35,000 in Grants and Contributions to the Department of Canadian Heritage for a project by the "Association étudiante de Polytechnique, entitled "Un devoir de mémoire : commémoration du 30e anniversaire de la tuerie de Polytechnique" for fiscal year 2019-20.

The objective of the project is to honour the victims of the massacre and build awareness in the Canadian population to help prevent violence against women, to promote gender equality, and to make Canadians aware of the societal consequences of these types of violent acts.

To remind everyone, on December 6, 1989, 14 women were murdered, and many others were injured and traumatized, at l'École Polytechnique because they were women.

The devastating impact of this misogynistic attack on young women led Parliament in 1991 to designate December 6 as a national day of remembrance and action. And 30 years later, the effects of this tragedy continue to be felt.

That's why this past December, to mark the 30th anniversary, Parliament Hill beamed 14 purple rays of light between 5:10 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. to coincide with the period of time when the victims' lives were taken.

We all have a role to play in preventing and addressing gender-based violence and raising awareness is part of our actions to help realize a safer and more inclusive Canada for everyone.

And our work has only just begun. We are taking many other actions.

I think of Bill C-5, which was recently tabled and is making its way through the parliamentary process.

If passed, this bill will amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code to require aspiring federally-appointed superior court judges to:

Closing

Madam Chair, we are fulfilling our mandate to drive systemic change that promotes a fairer and more productive society, not only for women and girls, but for people of all genders.

I hope to continue our excellent collaboration and to carry on benefiting from your recommendations to build on this momentum.

Thank you.

Issue: 2019-20 Department budget overview

Recommended response

Background

Table 1: 2019-20 funding
(in millions of dollars)

Funding categories Main estimates Reallocation Supplementary Estimates A Total
Operating expenditures 44.6 2.9 0.2 47.7
Grants and contributions 55.1 8.5 $2.0 65.6
Budget 2019: Advancing gender equality 10.0 (10.0)Footnote [1] N/A 0.0
Statutory (employee benefit plan and Minister's salary and car allowance) 4.3 0.2 N/A 4.5
Total funding 114.0 1.6 2.2 117.8Footnote [2]

Issue: 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates (B)

Recommended response

Background

Figure 1: WAGE’s budget from fiscal year 2019-20 to fiscal year 2015-16 (in millions of dollars)
Budget categories 2019-20 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17 2015-16
Operating 47.7 41.6 22.1 14.2 10.4
Grants and contributions 65.6 29.3 20.8 20.6 19.5
Statutory 4.5 2.8 1.7 1.5 1.3
Total budgetary 117.8 73.7 44.7 36.3 31.2
Variance operating %

15%

88%

55%

38%

N/A

Variance grants and contributions %

124%

41%

1%

6%

N/A

Variance statutory %

59%

62%

20%

15%

N/A

Variance total %

60%

65%

23%

17%

N/A

Issue: Department for Women and Gender Equality mandate

Recommended response

Background

Minister for Diversity and Inclusion and Youth

Minister for Women and Gender Equality

Issue: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

Recommended response

Background

Pillar 1: Preventing GBV

  • Amending the Canada Labour Code to strengthen existing frameworks for the prevention of harassment and sexual violence in the workplace (Justice Canada).
  • Funding provided to The Children of the Street Society to develop five prevention workshops to raise awareness of online child sexual exploitation to be delivered more than 300 times (Public Safety).
  • Development of a National Youth Awareness Campaign to promote values of gender equality under the theme of "Technology-facilitated violence" (also referred to as cyberviolence) (WAGE).

Pillar 2: Supporting survivors of GBV and their families

  • Funding provided to 26 Military Family Resource Centres to improve responses to GBV (DND).
  • As part of the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet, funding provided to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) to maintain Project Arachnid (Public Safety).
  • Funding provided to the Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network (PREVNet) for the Training of Health and Allied Professionals Initiative to enhance educators' capacity to prevent teen/youth dating violence (PHAC).

Pillar 3: Promoting responsive legal and justice systems to GBV

  • Strengthening sexual assault provisions in the Criminal Code (Justice Canada).
  • Creating the Sexual Assault Review Team, which has completed a review of over 30,000 "unfounded" sexual assault case files (RCMP).
  • Funding provided to the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre (ORCC) and the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) to launch a pilot project to review police investigations based on the Philadelphia model (WAGE).
  • Funding provided to the National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC) to increase investigative capacity to combat child sexual exploitation and transnational child sex offenders (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.

GBV Knowledge Centre

  • Development of three new national surveys to establish baselines on the prevalence of different forms of GBV (WAGE and StatsCan):
    • Survey on Individual Safety in Postsecondary Student Population: data are being collected between February and June 2019
    • Survey on Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace is in development
    • Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces (SSPPS) released provincial findings on December 5, 2019
  • Future releases will include data for the territories (March 2020), LGBTQ2 people's experiences of GBV (May 2020), and experiences of intimate-partner violence (late 2020).
  • Completion of Public Opinion Research on attitudes around Gender Equality, GBV and #MeToo.
  • Publication of two annual reports (2017-18 and 2018-19).

Issue: Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+)

Recommended response

Background

Auditor General Report, FEWO/PACP Reports and GBA+ Action Plan

Capacity Building and FEWO proposed Commissioner for Gender Equality

Media articles on the Government's implementation of GBA+

In early February 2019, some media articles referenced the challenges the Government has encountered implementing GBA+ (for example, poor monitoring and low-take up of GBA+ Action Plans). These were based on results from the last GBA+ Implementation Survey, which was released in June 2018. While pointing to the challenges, the articles failed to mention the significant progress that has been made including:

Key findings of the 2019 GBA+ Implementation Survey

In 2019, 74 federal departments and agencies responded to the Survey, which includes 25 organizations that participated in the Survey for the first time.

Overall, the Survey found:

Issue: Pay equity

Recommended response

Background

Pay transparency

Issue: Conversations with young Canadians/engaging men and boys

Recommended response

Background

National conversations on gender equality with young Canadians

Research on youth attitudes, norms, and biases

Developing a Strategy to Engage Men and Boys in Gender Equality

Issue: Government of Canada's gender equality accomplishments

Recommended response

Background

Key government achievements

Gender based budgeting

Gender-based violence (GBV)

Pillar 1: Preventing GBV

  • Amending the Canada Labour Code to strengthen existing frameworks for the prevention of harassment and sexual violence in the workplace (Justice Canada).
  • Development of a National Youth Awareness Campaign to promote values of gender equality under the theme of "Technology-facilitated violence" (also referred to as cyberviolence) (WAGE).

Pillar 2: Supporting survivors of GBV and their families

  • Funding provided to 26 Military Family Resource Centres to improve responses to GBV (DND).
  • As part of the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet, funding provided to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) to enhance the capacity of Cybertip.ca, Canada's tip line to report suspected online sexual exploitation of children, and to maintain Project Arachnid, an online crawling tool that helps reduce the online availability of child sexual abuse material (Public Safety).

Pillar 3: Promoting responsive legal and justice systems to GBV

  • Strengthening sexual assault provisions in the Criminal Code (Justice Canada).
  • Creating the Sexual Assault Review Team, which has completed a review of over 30,000 "unfounded" sexual assault case files (RCMP).
  • Funding provided to the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre (ORCC) and the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) to launch a pilot project to review police investigations based on the Philadelphia model (WAGE).
  • Funding provided to the National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC) to increase investigative capacity to combat child sexual exploitation and transnational child sex offenders (RCMP).

GBV Knowledge Centre

  • Development of 3 new national surveys to establish baselines on the prevalence of different forms of GBV (WAGE and StatsCan):
    • Survey on Individual Safety in Postsecondary Student Population: data are being collected between February and June 2019.
    • Survey on Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace is in development
    • Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces (SSPPS) released provincial findings on December 5, 2019.
  • Completion of Public Opinion Research on attitudes around Gender Equality, GBV and #MeToo.

Housing

Human rights

International

Health initiatives

Immigration

Women's economic security

Childcare
Gender wage gap
Under-represented professions
Entrepreneurship

Women in leadership roles

Issue: LGBTQ2 accomplishments

Recommended response

Background

Issue: Rural women

Recommended response

Background

WAGE Initiatives

The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy

Issue: Court Challenges Program – Canadian Heritage

Recommended response

Background

Issue: Bill S-209

Recommended response

Background

Department for Women and Gender Equality Act

Issue: Strategic plan for the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women

Recommended response

Background

FPT Forum

FPT Forum strategic plan

Issue: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Commemoration Fund

Recommended response

Background

Issue: Shelters in Canada

Recommended response

Background

Shelters

Indigenous

Provinces and territories

The GBV Strategy is funding the following related to shelter systems:

The Women's Program is funding the following related to shelter systems:

Issue: Gender-based violence at post-secondary institutions

Recommended response

Background

Issue: 'Unfounded' sexual assaults

Recommended response

Background

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Statistics Canada

Department of Women and Gender Equality: Gender-Based Violence Strategy

Issue: Intimate partner violence

Recommended response

Background

Statistics

Intimate partner homicide

Federal efforts

Issue: Ensuring responsive and legal justice systems/training for judges (C-5)

Recommended response

Background

Issue: Sexual harassment in the workplace

Recommended response

Background

Bill C-65

Women and Gender Equality Canada initiatives

Additional background

Issue: Sex trade/prostitution

Recommended response

Background

Definitions and stakeholder responses

The Department of Women and Gender Equality

Data and monitoring

Issue: Female genital mutilation/cutting

Recommended response

If pressed about statistics on FGM/C in Canada:

Background

Issue: Human trafficking

Recommended response

If pressed about forced labour/labour trafficking:

Background

International trafficking in persons

Issue: Forced and coerced sterilization

Recommended response

Background

Issue: Abortion services – Canada Health Act – Health Canada

Recommended response

Background

Issue: Firearms (banning assault-style firearms)

Recommended response

Background

Key statistics

Intimate partner violence in Canada

Issue: Women's economic security

Recommended response

Background

Poverty reduction strategy

Canada's statistics on populations living in a low income situation

Measures to support families and care-related responsibilities

Measures to enhance women's economic participation

Measures to address women's economic insecurity

Issue: Gender wage gap

Recommended response

Background

Statistics from Canada on the gender wage gap

Measures to remedy the undervaluing of women's work

Pay equity
Pay transparency

Measures for care-related responsibilities

Measures to remove barriers to women's economic participation

Entrepreneurship
Skilled trades

Issue: Women entrepreneurs

Recommended response

Background

The WES includes four pillars:

Helping women led business grow

  • $105 million over five years to the Regional Development Agencies to support investment in women-led businesses, helping them to scale and grow, as well as support regional innovation ecosystems, including incubators and accelerators, and other third-party programs supporting mentorship, networking and skills development. Comprises:
    • The Ecosystem Fund: $85 million over five years to strengthen capacity within the entrepreneurship ecosystem and close gaps in service for women entrepreneurs.
    • The Women Entrepreneurship Fund: a $20 million investment to assist women-owned and/or women-led businesses to grow their existing businesses and enable them to pursue opportunities in domestic and global markets.
  • Commitment to fill the gap in knowledge and review potential options related to recommendations for a set-aside for federal procurement.
  • Intention to introduce measures to increase the percentage of women-led SMEs participating in federal procurement by 50% (to at least 15%).
  • Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to coordinate a series of bootcamps for promising women entrepreneurs.
  • $10 million over five years to connect women with expanded export opportunities and services.

Increasing women's access to capital

  • $1.4 billion over three years in new financing through BDC, in addition to a previous commitment of $200 million for investment in women-led tech firms over five years from the BDC's Women in Technology Fund.
  • $250 million over three years for financing and insurance solutions through ESDC to support women-led business looking to begin exporting or already exporting.
  • Improve the representation of women among venture capital (VC) firm managers to insure that VC firms are investing in women-led businesses.
    • The Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (Budget 2017) will require proposals to demonstrate how they will improve gender representation among VC fund managers and portfolio companies.

Improving access to federal business innovation programming

  • Coming reforms to federal innovation programs will include a universal goal to improve the participation of under-represented groups, including women entrepreneurs, in the innovation economy.

Enhancing data and knowledge

  • Ryerson University is spearheading a consortium leading the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. The consortium will draw on the expertise of all participants to help address the diversity of women entrepreneurs across Canada.

Small business tax rate

Inclusive procurement

Canadian Experiences Fund

Issue: Senior women

Recommended response

Background

Data on senior women

Government initiatives

Issue: Women in leadership and decision-making

Recommended response

Background

Issue: Women in politics

Recommended response

Background

Budget 2019 initiatives

Budget 2018 initiatives

Complementary initiatives

Issue: Women in science. Technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and non-traditional employment

Recommended response

Background

Government of Canada initiatives: STEM

Government of Canada initiatives: Skilled trades

Canada's statistics on women in STEM

Canada's statistics on women in skilled trades

Women's Program

Canada's statistics on women in construction

Women Building Futures

Issue: Gender equality in Governor in Council appointments

Recommended response

Background

Issue: Department for Women and Gender Equality funding

Recommended response

Background

Women's Program

Examples of projects at the local and regional levels include:

Atlantic region
Quebec region
Ontario region
Western region
Table 2: Breakdown of all agreements funded since November 2015, by province and program
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 83 $26,619,835 10%
Women's Program 73 $19,421,706 N/A
Gender-Based Violence Program 8 $6,798,129 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
OntarioFootnote [5] All programs 243 $120,534,982 47%
Women's Program 222 $104,400,460 N/A
Gender-Based Violence Program 18 $15,434,654 N/A
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program 3 $699,868 N/A
Prince Edward Island All programs 13 $3,705,793 1%
Women's Program 13 $3,705,793 N/A
Gender-Based Violence Program 0 $0 N/A
Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program 0 $0 N/A
Quebec All programs 135 $39,753,067 15%
Women's Program 124 $31,646,465 N/A
Gender-Based Violence Program 10 $7,856,639 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 684 $256,487,119 N/A

Issue: Women and Gender Equality project announcements

Recommended response

Background

Women's Program

Gender-Based Violence Program

Issue: Gender-Based Violence Program funding

Recommended response

Background

Gender-Based Violence Program

Call for concepts: Promising Practices to Support Survivors and their Families

Project examples

Issue: 2030 Agenda for sustainable development

Recommended response

Background

Issue: Canada's position on gender indexes

Recommended response

Background

Issue: United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) 64th session

Recommended response

Background

Issue: Gender and climate change

Recommended response

Background

Effects of climate change on women and girls

Strengthening climate action by promoting gender equality

Women's employment in the green economy

Issue: Canada's role in the Generation Equality Forum

Recommended response

Background

Issue: Gender Results Framework

Recommended response

Background

Issue: Recent evidence on the state of gender equality in Canada

Recommended response

Background

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO)

Group of women

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:

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)

Photo - 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 this 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 this 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.

Also during the 42nd Parliament, Ms. Zahid served as the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. She is a strong advocate for gender equality and focuses specifically on racialized and newcomer women.

Anju Dhillon: new member (Liberal)

Photo - 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)

Photo - 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)

Photo - 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 pharmacare 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.

Gudie Hutchings: Parliamentary Secretary (non-voting member)

Photo - 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

Photo - 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 50% 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.

Jag Sahota: Conservative Deputy critic and new member

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.

Raquel Dancho: new member (Conservative)

Photo - 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 forty-third 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.

Alice Wong: returning member (Conservative)

Photo - 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

Photo - 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. As a new Member of Parliament, she has not yet held other positions or membership on any committees. However, 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.

Bloc Quebecois

Andréanne Larouche: Vice-Chair, BQ critic, and new member

Photo - 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 Jonquière 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.

Issue: 2019-20 Departmental overview

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