“From 2005 to 2011, more than 600 women disappeared or were murdered and justice wasn’t done. So imagine those families without answers, and still today in 2013,” said Michèle Taïna Audette, president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada at a press conference Jan. 24.
The Assembly of First Nations has called for a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women. The demand was also in Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence’s 13-point Declaration of Commitment, signed by aboriginal leaders and opposition parties last week.
Indigenous women are nearly seven times more likely to be murdered than non-indigenous women in Canada, according to Statistics Canada.
Ms. Sgro (York West, Ont.) will have to get the Conservative members of the committee on board if the study is to go ahead, something that is a concern.
“They don’t want to deal with the tough issues, the hard issues, like the missing aboriginal women, for instance. Why couldn’t we deal with that?”
The committee is currently studying harassment in the public service, an inquiry it started in October 2012. Ms. Sgro wanted it to study allegations of harassment in the RCMP specifically but her motion was voted down.
“If the committee had the courage to really do the job that they’re supposed to be doing on behalf of the women in Canada we would be focusing on the RCMP in depth, and by now we would have already been a good long ways towards a very strong report,” said Ms. Sgro who is the committee’s vice-chair.
The committee will likely continue working on the harassment study for the rest of the spring, and produce a report in the fall, she said.
The Senate National Security and Defence Committee will start studying harassment specifically at the RCMP this spring. Liberal Alberta Senator Grant Mitchell introduced the motion successfully in November 2012. It’s the second attempt at that committee to have the issue examined, after the Liberals, who are a minority on the committee, could not get it onto the agenda in spring 2012.
There are other committees to keep an eye on this spring.
The House International Trade Committee will soon table a report examining a potential trade agreement with Japan.
“We think Japan is a great partner with Canada, they have high standards in everything: environmentally, labour standards, the quality of their goods. We have complimentary economies,” said NDP trade critic Don Davies (Vancouver-Kingsway, B.C.), who is vice-chair of the committee.
Canada began trade negotiations with Japan last November.
“There is nothing that we’ve heard from Japan that would have raised any alarms that there should be any opposition for it at all,” said Conservative committee chair Rob Merrifield (Yellowhead, Alta.).
Mr. Davies said while he would like a unanimous report, NDP members would write a minority opinion if they feel the report isn’t comprehensive.
The committee is also studying a potential trade relationship with India.
“The prime ministers of both India and Canada, Mr. Harper is hoping to have some kind of a trade deal completed within the next year or so. That’s very aggressive, and the study is very important to that process,” said Mr. Merrifield.
NDP are also positive about trade with the fast-growing country.
“We think India is a dynamic, growing, economy and we’re in favour of closer economic ties with India. The devil is always in the details, though,” said Mr. Davies.
Mr. Davies said he agrees with the government’s prioritization of trade. On the India study, he said his party would like to call a variety of witnesses from academia, business and those from affected sectors.
Given the government’s ambitious timeline, Mr. Merrifield anticipates the group will be done the study before the end of the spring session in June, though it’s up to the committee.
The committee could study trade relations with Brazil or other countries, he added.
After India, Mr. Davies would like the committee to develop an overall trade strategy for Canada.
“It’s nice to explore particular trade deals with particular countries, but it’s not as important as an overall, broad, strategic plan, and from my perspective, that’s what the really strong economies of the world are doing,” he said.
Mr. Merrifield said the Conservatives are not interested.
“We’re not going to put off our agenda by chasing a rabbit trail. We’re going to focus on the priorities of the government, jobs and the economy and how we can protect them,” said Mr. Merrifield.
Both parties agree on the need to study the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Canada joined multilateral talks on the TPP, which involves 11 other countries, last October.
Canada is also working on a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Europe, which Mr. Davies would like to have studied. He would also like to have International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, B.C.) appear before the committee.
Mr. Merrifield said the committee’s priority would be trade legislation, including perhaps the Canada-Honduras agreement. Negotiations concluded in November 2012 but legislation hasn’t been introduced in Parliament.
The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee will be busy in the coming months reviewing the auditor general’s spring 2013 report. It will include chapters on hot-button topics like public security and anti-terrorism spending, the aboriginal Truth and Reconciliation Commission and support to search and rescue activities.
“We will wait and see what will be in the report,” before deciding which chapters to study, said NDP committee member Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (Pierrefonds-Dollard, Que.).
The committee is working on a report on chapter four of the AG’s fall 2011 report, on regulating pharmaceuticals. From the fall 2012 report, the NDP would like the committee to study the chapter on long-term fiscal sustainability and Finance Canada, and the chapter on protecting Canadian critical infrastructure against cyber threats.
The NDP would also like to study a fall 2011 audit on maintaining and repairing military equipment, which was originally slotted for work.
“With all that we hear about the F-35s, and the laxness in that area, you can understand it’s a report that’s very important to the official opposition,” she said.
The Senate Aboriginal Peoples Committee will also be one to watch. It is studying bill C-27, an act to enhance the financial accountability and transparency of First Nations—one of the pieces of legislation singled out by Idle No More protestors as being undemocratic. Hearings on the legislation could air some of the community’s grievances and have the potential to lead to amendments should the pressure be great enough.
What to expect from Parliamentary committees this session
House of Commons
• Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
• Study of C-47 Northern Jobs and Growth Act
• Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics
• Study of Privacy and Social Media
Agriculture and Agri-Food
• Study of Agriculture and Agri-Food Products Supply Chain (Grains and Oilseeds)
•Study of Animal Products Supply Chain
Canadian Heritage
•Study of the Canadian Entertainment Software Industry
Citizenship and Immigration
• Forthcoming report on Standing on Guard for Thee: Ensuring that Canada’s Immigration System is Secure
Environment and Sustainable Development
• Study of Urban Conservation Practices in Canada
• Study of the plans for ozone monitoring initiatives
Finance
•Forthcoming report on tax incentives for charitable donations
Fisheries and Oceans
• Review of Changes to the Fisheries Act
• Forthcoming reports on Closed Containment
• Salmon Acquaculture and Invasive Species that Pose a Threat to the Great Lakes System
Foreign Affairs and International Development
• Study of Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy
Government Operations and Estimates
• Forthcoming report on the Effectiveness of Public-Private Partnerships in the Delivery of Government Services
Health
•Study on Technological Innovation
•Study of Juvenile Diabetes
Human Resources
• Study of Economic Opportunities for Young Apprentices
Industry, Science and Technology
• Study of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
• Forthcoming report on the Intellectual Property Regime in Canada
International Trade
• Study of a Comprehensive Economic and Partnership Agreement with India
• Forthcoming report on a comprehensive and high-level economic partnership agreement with Japan
Justice and Human Rights
• Study of C-279 Gender Identity and Gender Expression
National Defence
• Study on harassment in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Study of the care of ill and injured Canadian Forces members
• Study of the command, control and administration of the Canadian Forces
• Study of NATO’s Strategic Concept and Canada’s role in International Defence Cooperation
Natural Resources
• Study of innovation in the energy sector
Official Languages
• Study of the Canadian Heritage Official Languages Annual Report 2010-2011
• Study of linguistic duality during the 150th anniversary celebrations of Canadian Confederation in 2017
• Study of the 2011-2012 Annual Report of the Commissioner of Officials Languages
Procedure and House Affairs
• Study of access to information requests and Parliamentary privilege
• Study of C-21 Political Loans and Accountability Act
Public Accounts
• Study of Chapter Six, Special Examinations of Crown Corporations 2011, of the spring 2012 report of the Auditor General of Canada
• Study of Chapter Five, Oversight of Civil Aviation—Transport Canada, of the spring 2012 report of the Auditor General of Canada
• Forthcoming report on Chapter Four, Regulating Pharmaceutical Drugs—Health Canada, of the Fall 2011 Report of the Auditor General of Canada
Status of Women
• Study of Sexual Harassment in the Federal Workplace
Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
• Forthcoming report on innovative transportation technologies
Veterans Affairs
• Study of the red tape initiative at the department of Veterans Affairs
• Study of transformation initiatives at Veterans Affairs Canada
Senate
• Aboriginal Peoples
• Study of C-27 First Nations Financial Transparency
• Forthcoming report on the evolving legal and political recognition of the collective identity and rights of the Métis in Canada
Agriculture and Forestry
• Study of research and innovation efforts in the agricultural sector
Banking, Trade and Commerce
• Study of C-28 Financial Literacy Leader Act
• Study of S-203 Boards of Directors Modernization Act
• Study of the present state of the domestic and international financial system
• Forthcoming report on the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act
Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
• Study of the current state of the safety elements of the bulk transport of hydrocarbon products in Canada
Fisheries and Oceans
• Study of S-13 Port State Measures Agreement Implementation Act
• Study of the lobster fishery in Atlantic Canada and Quebec
• Study of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
Foreign Affairs and International Trade
• Study of economic and political developments in the Republic of Turkey, their regional and global influences, the implications for Canadian interests and opportunities, and other related matters.
Human Rights
• Study of issues pertaining to the human rights of First Nations band members who reside off-reserve, with an emphasis on the current federal policy framework.
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
• Study of Bill S-207, An Act to amend the Interpretation Act (non-derogation of aboriginal treaty rights).
National Finance
• Study of S-205, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (Carbon Offset Tax Credit).
National Security and Defence
• Study of Canada’s east and west coast navy and air force bases
• Study of harassment in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Study of status and lessons learned during Canadian Forces operations in Afghanistan
• Study of Canada’s national security and defence policies, practices, circumstances and capabilities
• Study of the services and benefits provided to members of the Canadian Forces; to veterans; to members and former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their families.
Official Languages
• Study of CBC/Radio-Canada’s obligations under the Official Languages Act and some aspects of the Broadcasting Act.
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
• Study of S-202 Medical Devices Registry Act
• Study of C-316, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (incarceration)
• Forthcoming report on prescription pharmaceuticals in Canada
• Forthcoming report on social inclusion and cohesion in Canada
Original Article
Source: hill times
Author: Jessica Bruno
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