News

OTTAWA – Today’s report from the Native Women’s Association of Canada on missing and murdered aboriginal women is further evidence of the need for $10 million in promised funding, say New Democrats.

“It is essential now, in light of this report, that the government be forthcoming about its plans for the $10 million promised to this issue in Budget 2010, and how it will be used to raise awareness and implement new policies,” says Irene Mathyssen, New Democrat Critic for the Status of Women.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to speak to Bill C-9, the jobs and economic growth act. As the member for Outremont, our finance critic, has indicated, the New Democrats will be voting against this particular piece of legislation.

When pieces of legislation come before the House, we have responsibilities as members of Parliament to give them full consideration. Although we do support pieces of this legislation, there are other pieces of it that we are fundamentally opposed to. The Conservative government has decided to jam into this piece of legislation things that should properly be considered by other parliamentary standing committees and should have stand-alone legislation.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak to Bill C-3, An Act to promote gender equity in Indian registration by responding to the Court of Appeal for British Columbia decision in McIvor v. Canada (Registrar of Indian and Northern Affairs). It is a long title for a short bill. New Democrats will be supporting this bill at second reading.

It is important not only for the women and their children in Nanaimo—Cowichan but for the women and their children in British Columbia and across this country.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to congratulate Nanaimo's Tillicum Le'lum Aboriginal Friendship Centre on its new indigenous response to sexual abuse program. Building on existing programs, this one of a kind initiative will support sexual health and self-esteem workshops, intervention for men at risk of offending and activities to celebrate aboriginal youth. The use of traditional teachings to foster healthy families is a hallmark of the centre.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Madam Speaker, in fact there was another bill that was introduced, Bill C-3 on the McIvor decision from the B.C. Supreme Court. That bill still has not been brought forward for debate in the House despite the fact that there is a deadline of April 6 for implementation of that very important decision for first nations across this country.

When the Conservative House leader was speaking, he characterized what was happening today as a waste of time. I would like the member to comment on the fact that the Conservatives seem to characterize having a debate about the fundamentals around our democratic process as a waste of time. What we have heard from thousands and thousands of Canadians is their concern around what they see as a unilateral abuse of power.

By: John Ward, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - The federal government has introduced legislation to extend formal Indian status to the grandchildren of aboriginal women who married non-natives - a change that could add as many as 45,000 people to the Indian registry.

The bill, introduced in the Commons on Thursday by Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl, is in response to a 2009 B.C. court judgment which ruled that a law denying Indian status to the grandchildren was discriminatory.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak to the budget. I will be splitting my time with the member for New Westminster—Coquitlam.

I want to spend my brief 10 minutes talking about two different aspects of the budget. I want to talk about how it affects people who live in my riding of Nanaimo—Cowichan, but in my role as the aboriginal affairs critic for the NDP, I also want to talk about how it affects first nations, Métis and Inuit throughout the country.

International Women’s Day 2010

March 7, 2010 – On the eve of International Women’s Day, March 8, CARE Canada is releasing the results of a national survey which shows 88 per cent of Canadians believe women play an important role in reducing global poverty.

“There is an overwhelming belief in Canada that women are key in the fight against poverty,” said Kevin McCort, President and CEO of CARE Canada. “I think this is a clear demonstration that Canadians understand and support the role that the empowerment of women play. Now it’s up to all of us to turn this belief into action.”

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Thank you, Chair.

In the context of the numbers, that 32% of women in federal prisons are aboriginal, that aboriginal women's incarceration rate has increased by 151% between 1997 and 2007, and that 45% of the maximum security federally sentenced women are aboriginal and so on, the numbers are pretty shocking.

Mr. Chair, in that context, it is important that this committee report back to the House on this matter so that we can keep it on the radar that the committee has taken it under consideration.

Ms. Jean Crowder: Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Head, for coming before the committee.

I think, as the Correctional Investigator noted, there are many good intentions within CSC, they're attempting to fulfill their mandate, but there are challenges in terms of the ongoing problems with aboriginal offenders within the CSC.

You're aware, of course, that the Correctional Investigator has recommended that there be a deputy commissioner responsible and that the department has strongly indicated that they won't be doing that. His concern is that, without that kind of structure in place, we won't see the kind of results that are needed.