FEWO Committee Report

Bloc Québécois Supplementary Opinion

It was important for the Standing Committee on the Status of Women to examine the challenges facing women living in rural communities, as we know full well that these women do not have access to the same services. While this inequity is not deliberate, its very existence threatens women’s development and, in some cases, their safety.

The committee’s recent study on the impacts of the COVID‑19 pandemic on women has already underscored the two main issues addressed by the various recommendations: (1) that the lockdown led to a marked increase in domestic violence; and (2) that access to high-speed Internet is critical for regional development.

All of these issues are very important and have long been supported by the Bloc Québécois. We were therefore very enthusiastic about studying them in committee, not only to raise awareness among all parliamentarians but also to try to find solutions, after reflecting on committee testimony, to present to the government.

As the Bloc Québécois has repeatedly stated, social services are part of a coherent policy allowing for problems to be studied in light of the larger social context. Many issues are interrelated, and solutions must be found that take into account the unique characteristics and social reality of the population concerned.

That is the main reason why we do not agree with some of the committee’s recommendations, as they do not take into account the distinct nature of the Quebec nation, particularly its collective choices and policies in the area of health care and social services. Moreover, most of the recommendations do not respect the division of legislative powers in the Constitution Act, 1867.

In Canada, it is Quebec and the provinces that have authority over health facilities and that provide care and services to their populations. Canada has no business dictating to Quebec how it should conduct its affairs in its own legislative jurisdiction.

The government must also stop trying to impose national strategies and standards on the programs it puts in place. The Bloc Québécois opposes the federal government assuming the right to dictate to Quebec and the provinces what is good for their populations. This hierarchical vision of the Canadian federation is paternalistic and violates the principle of asymmetrical federalism.

Recommendations

The Bloc Québécois takes issue with the wording of the following recommendations.

Recommendation 2 – Services for Women Survivors of Violence

We obviously support improving services for abused women and children who have fled terrible situations. However, we do not want the federal government to duplicate structures and programs that work in Quebec. If the federal government wants to help the provinces, it can provide them with the necessary funds to develop or improve a network of coherent services or, if it chooses to create new structures, allow them to opt out with full compensation if they already have such structures. Duplication just reduces the amount of money that could actually be used to support organizations and families.

Recommendation 3 – Services for Women Survivors of Violence

Despite the addition of collaboration with the provinces in this recommendation, it dictates what the provinces and organizations should do with the funding. We believe that these organizations and people on the ground know better than we do how this money should be spent.

Recommendation 8 – Gender-Based Analysis Plus

This recommendation is poorly worded. First of all, this recommendation is already in the mandate letter to the Minister for Women. Yet the wording of the recommendation shifts the focus from the needs of women to the “unique needs of…diverse individuals living in rural, remote and northern communities.” The recommendation is therefore unclear as to whether the analysis is to be based on women or the urban divide.

Lastly, we want to set the record straight on constitutional jurisdictions since it is clear to us that the pandemic has been an opportunity for the government to ignore its own constitution, once again, at Quebec’s expense.