Status of Women

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to discuss the abuse and financial vulnerability of senior women. Witnesses from the National Seniors Council and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) provided insights and recommendations. The committee members explored ways to protect senior women from fraud and financial exploitation, focusing on prevention, reporting, and support systems. Pamela Williamson and Christine Kelly from the National Seniors Council highlighted the importance of addressing financial insecurity and social isolation among senior women. They suggested a multi-sector approach involving financial institutions, community organizations, and government support. They also mentioned the need for consumer protection against high-pressure sales tactics and the importance of grassroots organizations in providing support. Chris Lynam, Director General of the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, discussed the RCMP's efforts to combat cybercrime and fraud targeting seniors. He emphasized early intervention, public education, and collaboration with various partners, including financial institutions and community groups. He also highlighted the new public reporting website for fraud and cybercrime. Committee members raised concerns about the accessibility of reporting systems for seniors, especially those in rural areas or with limited digital literacy. Committee members questioned the witnesses on various issues, including the impact of delayed pension payments, the role of financial institutions in preventing fraud, and the effectiveness of current support systems. They also discussed the need for a national anti-fraud strategy and a code of conduct for financial institutions. The committee explored potential legislative measures to protect vulnerable Canadians from financial abuse. The committee identified the need for more resources, better data collection, and enhanced collaboration among different sectors to address the financial vulnerability of senior women. They also emphasized the importance of raising awareness and providing support to victims of fraud.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to discuss the financial vulnerability and abuse faced by senior women in Canada. Witnesses from various organizations shared their expertise and proposed solutions to address these issues. The committee heard about the challenges faced by caregivers, the impact of fraud on seniors, and the tax inequities faced by single senior women. They also discussed the need for culturally sensitive support and the importance of addressing systemic barriers that contribute to financial vulnerability. James Janeiro from the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence spoke about the financial pressures faced by caregivers, particularly older women. He suggested converting the Canada caregiver credit into a refundable tax credit and developing a national caregiving strategy. Norma Dubé from the Fédération des aînées et aînés francophones du Canada discussed the increasing rates of fraud and family violence against seniors, with women being disproportionately affected. She emphasized the need for awareness campaigns and addressing the isolation of seniors. Elizabeth Brown from Single Seniors for Tax Fairness highlighted the tax inequities faced by single senior women compared to couples. She proposed changes to the tax system to address these inequities and provide more financial support for solo seniors. Marta Hajek from Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario emphasized that financial abuse of older women is a form of gender-based violence and coercive control. She advocated for strengthening systemic first points of contact and reducing barriers to reporting abuse. Patricia McAuliffe from the National Pensioners Federation called for the appointment of a federal minister for seniors, the establishment of independent seniors' advocates in every province, the implementation of national standards for long-term care, and federal support for a UN convention on the rights of older persons. Doris Rajan from the New Society Institute discussed the importance of recognizing the diverse experiences of senior women and addressing the historical systems of exclusion that contribute to their vulnerability. The committee members discussed potential solutions, such as increasing old age security, improving access to government benefits, and providing more support for caregivers. They also explored the need for culturally sensitive programs and services to address the specific needs of marginalized senior women. The committee will continue its study on this issue and consider the recommendations made by the witnesses in its report.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to discuss issues related to the abuse and financial vulnerability of senior women, and also to study a proposed law to amend criminal and correctional matters. The first part of the meeting focused on hearing from witnesses about the challenges faced by older women, especially regarding financial abuse, caregiving, and systemic inequalities. Bénédicte Schoepflin from the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse emphasized the need for a coordinated federal approach to prevent elder abuse and strengthen support systems. Loriane Estienne from Proche aidance Québec highlighted the financial hardships faced by family caregivers and the importance of recognizing their role in preventing elder abuse. Deborah Rose from the Edmonton Aboriginal Seniors Centre shared insights on the unique challenges faced by Indigenous senior women, including financial pressures, isolation, and lack of culturally safe supports. Committee members asked questions about coercive control, caregiver burnout, and the impact of inflation on seniors' fixed incomes. The second part of the meeting involved a discussion with the Minister of Justice, Sean Fraser, regarding a proposed law called the Protecting Victims Act. Minister Fraser explained that the proposed law aims to strengthen criminal laws, support law enforcement and community organizations, and prevent violence and crime. Key aspects of the proposed law include creating a new offense for femicide, addressing coercive control, restoring mandatory minimums for certain penalties, and dealing with the creation and distribution of intimate images using artificial intelligence. Committee members raised concerns about court delays, the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, and the scope of the proposed law in addressing elder abuse. Minister Fraser defended the proposed law, emphasizing its potential to protect women and children from violence and exploitation. He acknowledged the need for a broader strategy that includes support for frontline services and investments in community health. Committee members also discussed the importance of addressing systemic issues and ensuring that the proposed law is constitutionally sound. The committee discussed the importance of data collection and culturally safe policies to address the unique needs of diverse groups of senior women. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further study the proposed law and work towards solutions to ensure the safety, autonomy, and dignity of older women in Canada.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to discuss the abuse and financial vulnerability of senior women. The committee heard from several organizations, including the Association féministe d'éducation et d'action sociale (AFEAS), the Canadian Center for Women's Empowerment, and the Sai Dham Food Bank, about the challenges senior women face, such as lower retirement income, lack of recognition for unpaid work, social isolation, and various forms of abuse. Witnesses provided recommendations to the committee on how to address these issues. Lise Courteau from AFEAS highlighted the need for changes to retirement programs using a gender-based analysis and suggested that retirement plans should be based on personal income rather than family income. Meseret Haileyesus from the Canadian Center for Women's Empowerment emphasized the importance of addressing economic abuse and injustice through research, education, financial empowerment, and policy influencing. Vishal Khanna from the Sai Dham Food Bank shared observations about the growing number of senior women relying on food banks and the challenges they face in accessing healthcare and social support. During the meeting, committee members asked questions about the structural differences between single seniors and senior couples, the impact of rising costs of living on those nearing retirement, and the role of community agencies in helping senior women. Witnesses emphasized the importance of providing trauma-informed financial education, protecting federal income support programs, and investing in community-based organizations that support senior women. The committee also discussed the need for a national strategy to address the needs of older adults, particularly women, and the importance of considering the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ2IA+ seniors. The committee also heard from the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, the National Association of Federal Retirees, and the National Institute on Ageing. These witnesses discussed financial abuse, retirement income security, and the gender dimensions of aging. They recommended strengthening the national response to economic abuse, protecting federal income programs, and committing sustainable funding to organizations working to prevent and respond to economic abuse. They also suggested a pension delay guarantee to increase lifetime retirement income for low- to middle-income households. The committee agreed to receive written submissions from witnesses who were unable to fully address questions during the meeting. The committee will use the information gathered during the meeting to inform its ongoing study of the abuse and financial vulnerability of senior women.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to discuss the financial vulnerability and abuse of senior women in Canada. Witnesses from various organizations shared their expertise and provided recommendations to address these issues. The committee heard that financial insecurity, social isolation, and the increasing sophistication of scams are major factors contributing to the vulnerability of older women. Pierre Lynch from the Association québécoise de défense des droits des personnes retraitées et préretraitées, discussed the financial challenges faced by seniors, particularly women without private pensions. Sylvie St-Amand and Vé Mikaelian from the Fédération des femmes du Québec, emphasized the structural inequalities that contribute to the financial vulnerability of older women, including the gendered division of labor and the lack of affordable housing. Dr. Rose Joudi from HelpAge Canada, highlighted the under-reporting of abuse against older women and the role of ageism as a structural risk factor. Detective Michael Payne from the Waterloo Regional Police Service, spoke about the increasing complexity of fraud and scams targeting older adults, particularly through the use of AI and deepfake technology. He urged the government to implement policies requiring digital platforms to deploy real-time fraud alerts and to provide better support for victims of financial crimes. Joanne Blinco from the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council, discussed the issue of coercive control in elder abuse cases and the need for coordinated community response teams to support older adults at risk. Sonia Côté from the Association d'entraide Le Chaînon inc., shared her experiences working with vulnerable women in Quebec and highlighted the importance of securing housing, strengthening the social safety net, and establishing trusts dedicated to rent to prevent homelessness among senior women. Committee members raised concerns about the adequacy of government benefits, the impact of inflation on seniors' incomes, and the need for better support for caregivers. The committee acknowledged the need for a multi-faceted approach to address the financial vulnerability and abuse of senior women, including strengthening income supports, breaking down social isolation, preventing fraud, and promoting awareness of elder abuse. The committee will use the information gathered from the witnesses to develop recommendations for the government.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to discuss and make changes to a proposed law about violence against partners. The goal of the law is to better protect people in relationships from abuse and ensure fair treatment in the justice system. The committee worked through the proposed law section by section, considering different ideas for improvement. Frank Caputo, a Conservative, played a key role as the sponsor of the proposed law, explaining its purpose and how the changes would work. Leah Gazan from the NDP shared her concerns about the law potentially harming Indigenous people and those experiencing abuse. Representatives from the Department of Justice, Nathalie Levman and Alyssa McLeod, helped the committee understand the legal details of the proposed changes. Patricia Lattanzio and other Liberal committee members introduced many changes to the proposed law, which the committee discussed and voted on. These changes included making sure that courts consider patterns of abuse when deciding sentences and creating a new offense for violence against a partner. The committee agreed to remove some parts of the proposed law that were no longer needed because of the changes they made. Ultimately, the committee members voted to approve the proposed law with several changes. These changes aim to ensure that the law is clear, fair, and effective in protecting people from violence in their relationships. The committee also decided to have the proposed law reprinted with the changes so that the House of Commons can review it again.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to discuss a proposed law (Bill C-225) that aims to strengthen the Criminal Code's response to intimate partner violence. Witnesses shared their views on whether the proposed law would effectively protect victims and prevent violence. Some expressed concerns that the proposed law could inadvertently harm victims who act in self-defense or lead to the over-criminalization of marginalized groups. Sabrina Nadeau from À cœur d’homme emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of violence and focusing on holding perpetrators accountable. She suggested that criminalizing coercive control would be more effective than creating new offenses. Brian Sauvé, representing the National Police Federation, supported the intent of the proposed law but raised concerns about resource limitations, especially in rural areas, and the need for clarity in defining intimate partner violence offenses. Hilda Anderson-Pyrz of the National Family and Survivors Circle stressed the need for a distinctions-based and gender-based analysis to ensure the proposed law does not disproportionately impact Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. Raneem Yaseen from the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic cautioned that the proposed law could expand criminalization without proper context and safeguards. Karine Barrette and Louise Riendeau from the Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale advocated for considering patterns of coercive control in domestic violence cases. Committee members discussed potential amendments to the proposed law to address concerns about victim criminalization and ensure that it aligns with the needs of diverse communities. The committee identified the need for more training for police and prosecutors to better understand and address intimate partner violence. Amendments to the proposed law are due by March 2. The committee agreed that the goal is to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable, but there are different views on how best to achieve this.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to discuss a proposed law, Bill C-225, which aims to amend the Criminal Code regarding intimate partner violence. Frank Caputo, a member of Parliament, introduced the proposed law, named "Bailey's Law", explaining it was inspired by the tragic death of Bailey McCourt and other victims of intimate partner violence. The proposed law suggests that the murder of an intimate partner should automatically be classified as first-degree murder, and seeks to create specific intimate partner violence offences that mirror existing offences, such as assault and harassment. During the meeting, committee members raised concerns that the proposed law might unintentionally capture cases where a woman kills her abusive partner in self-defense. Caputo expressed openness to amendments to address these concerns, emphasizing that he does not want to see any innocent person, especially a battered spouse acting in self-defense, wrongly convicted. Witnesses Debbie Henderson, Florence Bellman, and Paul Henderson shared emotional testimonies about losing loved ones to intimate partner violence, highlighting the need for stronger safeguards and accountability within the justice system. The witnesses emphasized the importance of recognizing the seriousness of intimate partner violence and preventing future tragedies. They also discussed the concept of coercive control and whether it should be explicitly included as an offense in the proposed law. Committee members and witnesses acknowledged the complexity of the issue and the need for a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, support services, and addressing systemic issues within the justice system. The committee agreed to consider amendments to the proposed law to ensure it effectively protects victims and holds perpetrators accountable.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to discuss anti-feminist ideology and its impact, especially online. Witnesses shared their expertise on how social media and AI can amplify harmful content, affecting young people's beliefs and behaviors. They also discussed the need for prevention strategies, education, and regulation of online platforms. Key speakers included Esli Chan, who highlighted how social media algorithms promote misogynistic content, and Michel Dorais, who emphasized the importance of positive male role models and reaching boys in schools and sports. Shari Graydon proposed requiring political parties to run equal numbers of men and women to increase women's visibility and challenge anti-feminist rhetoric. Emmanuelle Parent shared insights from classrooms, noting young people's exposure to misogyny online and the need for platform regulation. Representatives from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the Integrated Threat Assessment Centre (ITAC) discussed how anti-feminist ideology can contribute to violent extremism and the importance of international cooperation. They clarified that CSIS investigates threats meeting the national security threshold, while ITAC assesses the likelihood of violent extremist attacks.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to discuss section 810 of the Criminal Code and women's safety. The Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree, spoke about the government's efforts to combat gender-based violence, including investments in prevention programs and stricter gun control measures. He highlighted proposed laws aimed at strengthening bail and sentencing for violent offenders and protecting victims of sexual violence. However, committee members questioned the effectiveness of these measures, citing rising crime rates and concerns about the impact on law-abiding gun owners. Dominique Vien, a committee member, challenged the Minister on rising crime rates since 2015 and criticized the government's gun confiscation program, arguing it unfairly targets hunters and Indigenous people. She questioned the Minister about a conversation where he allegedly expressed doubts about the program's usefulness. The Minister denied these claims and defended the program as a way to remove dangerous firearms from the streets. Other committee members, like Juanita Nathan, focused on the prevalence of firearms in intimate partner violence and the role of policing in addressing domestic violence in First Nations communities. RCMP Senior Deputy Commissioner Bryan Larkin discussed the challenges of policing in remote areas and the importance of culturally sensitive approaches. Andréanne Larouche raised concerns about the implementation of firearms regulations and the need to strengthen protection orders for victims of domestic violence. The committee also heard from the Minister of Justice, Sean Fraser, who emphasized the importance of addressing gender-based violence and the government's commitment to public safety. Connie Cody questioned the Minister on the types of weapons used in violence against women and accused the Liberal government of being soft on crime. Marie-Gabrielle Ménard highlighted the importance of prevention programs and the need to address the root causes of gender-based violence. Larry Brock raised concerns about the lack of trust in the justice system among victims of intimate partner violence. Shaun Chen emphasized the need to support survivors of violence and the importance of community safety. The committee agreed to extend the deadline for recommendations for amendments to February 20th to allow committee members more time to respond.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to discuss anti-feminist ideology and its impact. Witnesses shared their expertise on how anti-feminist ideas are spreading, especially online, and how they affect women and LGBTQ+ people. Tristan Boursier, a political scientist, explained that anti-feminism is a political view that sees inequality between men and women as natural and desirable. He noted that online influencers are using anti-feminism to make money, and this content is easily spread through social media. Mylène de Repentigny-Corbeil, from Les 3 sex*, highlighted the rise of the "manosphere," an online ecosystem promoting hatred of women and violence. Dina Haddish, representing the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres, discussed how anti-feminist ideology harms survivors of sexual violence, making it harder for them to report and seek help. Committee members questioned the witnesses about education, the role of parents, and how to combat anti-feminist thinking. Witnesses emphasized the importance of prevention, education, and awareness, starting at a young age. They also stressed the need for digital literacy and critical thinking skills to challenge harmful online content. The committee discussed holding online platforms accountable for spreading hate speech and misinformation. Additional witnesses, including Francis Dupuis-Déri, Kyle Ganson, and Pascal Vaillancourt, provided further insights. Dupuis-Déri spoke about the history of anti-feminism and the need to address the root causes of inequality. Ganson discussed how problematic masculine gender norms are promoted online, leading to mental health issues and anti-feminist beliefs. Vaillancourt highlighted the connection between anti-feminist and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, and the rise in violence and distress experienced by LGBTQ+ people. The committee explored potential solutions, including funding support resources, education, and holding individuals accountable for their actions.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women met to discuss anti-feminist ideology and its impact. Witnesses shared insights on the rise of misogyny, especially online, and its effects on women and young men. The committee heard about the normalization of anti-feminism and its connection to real-world violence. They also discussed the challenges faced by francophone women and the importance of addressing the root causes of radicalization. Rachel Gilmore, a journalist, spoke about her personal experiences with online harassment and the chilling effect it can have on women in journalism. Vé Mikaelian from the Fédération des femmes du Québec highlighted the growing extremism in online spaces and the real-world consequences of anti-feminist ideology. Dr. Alok Kanojia from the Healthy Gamer Foundation discussed the mental health aspects of young men drawn to these ideologies, emphasizing loneliness and lack of purpose as key factors. Nour Enayeh and Soukaina Boutiyeb from the Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne spoke about the specific challenges faced by francophone women and the need for tailored support. Committee members explored potential solutions, including education, mental health support, and addressing online hate speech. They discussed the importance of early intervention and providing positive role models for young men. The committee also considered the need for more research and data on anti-feminist ideology, as well as the importance of funding for organizations working to combat it. There was discussion of the need to balance freedom of expression with the need to protect women from violence and harassment. The committee discussed a motion to study human trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation.