Over the past two days MP Marc G. Serré has been in Ottawa to participate in a Standing committee on the Status of Women meeting. This committee works to advance equality for women by focusing its efforts in four priority areas: increasing support during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing women’s economic security and prosperity; encouraging women’s leadership and democratic participation; and ending gender-based violence. Status of Women Canada also plays a leadership role in the government-wide implementation of Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+).
As an active and engaged member of the committee since 2015, MP Serré took the opportunity during the meeting to further advocate for continued and additional support for women’s shelters and organizations who support women in crisis including Indigenous women and girls with a lens on rural areas. Other topics explored related to women and families included the Government’s signature of the first-ever multilateral agreement with provinces and territories on early learning and child care. This will provide at least $7.5 billion between 2017 and 2028 to help give children the best possible start in life and build upon the more than 40,000 child care spots that have been created since 2017. Additionally, plans were discussed to create a national secretariat that will lay the groundwork for a pan-Canadian childcare system which will require collaborative efforts from all levels of government.
This is MP Serré’s second trip to Ottawa since the pandemic hit. In June he met with his fellow members of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the varied departments related to citizenship and immigration. The House met at noon today on July 8th, and is also scheduled to meet July 22nd, August 12th and August 26 when it will resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to allow Members to question ministers on matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other matters. Members may participate in the proceedings either in person or by videoconference. MP Serré will be participating in the proceedings by videoconference for the sessions scheduled this summer. As per the established Health and Safety guidelines, attendance in-person will be reduced and kept for those who are in proximity.
Recently, as part of the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Government of Canada announced support for women and children fleeing violence by providing up to $50 million to women’s shelters and sexual assault centres in order to help with the continuity and sustainability of services provided by these organization. The funding also supports the adjustment related to the needs of survivors in light of COVID-19, while also helping with the sudden and unexpected change to operations at shelters due to the pandemic. The funding was allocated as such:
The Government of Canada worked diligently to develop a funding stream to support over 500 organizations requiring assistance to maintain and improve upon essential and compassionate services to women and children. As such, Marc G. Serré MP for Nickel Belt and Paul Lefebvre MP for Sudbury collaborated to highlight the needs within their ridings and successfully secured support for local organizations such as the Genevra House/YWCA, Voices for Women Sudbury Sexual Assault Centre, Centre Victoria pour Femmes Sudbury, and the Horizons Centre for Women in West Nipissing.
Since 2015 the Government increased funding to women’s and gender-equality organizations from less than $20 million under previous government leadership to more than $65 million per year. This year, the Department of Women and Gender Equality has approved $110 million which will provide essential funding for more than 1,200 organizations going forward.
Quotes
“Ensuring the safety of all Canadians remains our government’s top priority. Thank you to all workers who have continued to support women and families during unprecedented times. I commend our government for recognizing the unique challenges related to women and children fleeing violence and for acting swiftly to provide timely and important funding to the shelters and sexual assault centers across our country and right here in Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury. Meeting with the members of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women allowed us to examine the work our government has accomplished prior to and during this pandemic. There is a unified census as a committee to keep addressing the lived experiences and realities faced by women and children and Indigenous communities in rural areas. I look forward to our continued collaboration to create a safer and more economically prosperous future for all women.” – Marc. G. Serré, MP Nickel Belt
“The Federal COVID-19 emergency funding that was allocated to shelters was so appreciated and supported the extra costs linked to the pandemic. This funding has assisted us to be able to concentrate on the essential services we provide to women and children and not to worry about the financial hardships we were facing with the pandemic.” – Linda Lafantaisie Renaud, Executive Director, Horizon’s Women Centre, West Nipissing
“COVID-19 has changed the way in which we currently provide services, and the funds provided by our Federal Government help cover additional costs to support women and children fleeing intimate partner abuse and keep everyone safe, including our essential staff.”
Marlene Gorman, Executive Director, YWCA Sudbury
Quick Facts
Important links
-30-
Contacts
Kaylie Dudgeon,
Special Assistant
Marc G. Serré MP Nickel Belt
[email protected]
705-897-2222
705-897-2222
Please call to book an appointment. Veuillez appeler pour prendre rendez-vous.
705-580-2584
Please call to book an appointment. Veuillez appeler pour prendre rendez-vous.
