Response to parliamentary committees and external audits 2019-20 Departmental Results Report, Women and Gender Equality Canada

Response to parliamentary committees

1. A Lifetime of Dedication: Helping Senior Women Benefit from their Lifelong Contributions to Canadian Society. Adopted by the Committee: June 4, 2019.

   Responses to recommendations:

   An election was called before a response was required to be submitted, ending the parliamentary session and ending the requirement to respond. Report 17 of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.

2. A Force for Change: Creating a Culture of Equality for Women in the Canadian Armed Forces. Adopted by the Committee: June 11, 2019.

   Responses to recommendations:

   An election was called before a response was required to be submitted, ending the parliamentary session and ending the requirement to respond. Report 18 of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.

3. Elect Her: A Roadmap for Improving the Representation of Women in Canadian Politics. Adopted by the Committee: February 5, 2019.

   Responses to recommendations:

   An election was called before a response was required to be submitted, ending the parliamentary session and ending the requirement to respond. Report 14 of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.

4. Surviving Abuse and Building Resilience—A Study of Canada’s Systems of Shelters and Transition Houses Serving Women and Children Affected by Violence - Report 15 of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women

   The response to this report was led by Employment and Social Development Canada:

   Summary

   When escaping violence, women and children need access to safe housing and appropriate support services. However, shelters and transition houses across Canada do not have enough beds or services to meet demand. Levels of service provided across the country differ. The lack of services may force some women and children to return to, or remain in, violent situations. Women and children affected by violence may face further challenges when they leave shelters and transition houses. These challenges include long waiting times for, and difficulty accessing, transitional housing, and a lack of safe and affordable permanent housing. In its May 2019 report, the committee made 20 recommendations to government, with the main goals of:

   • Addressing the gap between supply of and demand for space in shelters and transition houses serving women and children.
   • Ensuring that women and children experiencing violence have access to shelters and transition houses services that meet their specific needs. The goal is also to ensure these services are available to them whether they live in urban, rural or remote communities. It is also important that these services be available in comparable levels across Canada, including to Indigenous women.
   • Increasing women’s access to safe and affordable housing and appropriate supports.

   Read the full report.

   Government response and corrective actions

   Federal, provincial and territorial governments share responsibility for housing, homelessness, preventing and addressing gender-based violence, and criminal justice. The federal government is committed to working with provinces and territories to address gender-based violence. It has been proactive in taking action to support shelters and transition houses serving women and families affected by violence. In its response, the government highlights work undertaken in line with the 4 theme areas identified in the committee’s report.

   Read the full response.

Response to External Audits

• Response to audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (including audits conducted by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)

  There were no audits in 2019–20 requiring a response.

• Response to audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

  There were no audits in 2019–20 requiring a response.