Bill C-284

1st Session, 41st Parliament,

60 Elizabeth II, 2011

house of commons of canada

BILL C-284

An Act respecting Status of Women Canada

Whereas a Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada established on February 16, 1967, to inquire into and report on the status of women in Canada made significant recommendations on steps to be taken by the federal government to ensure women equal opportunities with men in all aspects of Canadian society, having regard to the distribution of legislative powers under the Constitution of Canada, particularly with reference to federal statutes, regulations and policies that concern or affect the rights and activities of women;

Whereas Canada is a party to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and encourages the advancement and full participation of women in all spheres of life;

Whereas all Canadians are committed to promoting gender equality in a manner consist- ent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;

Whereas it is in the interest of Canadians to identify and raise awareness on issues that affect the social, economic and democratic rights of women;

Whereas concerted action by Canadians to increase respect for women's rights enhances the lives of all Canadians;

And whereas the Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women, was designated as a department for the purposes of the Financial Administration Act and the Public Service Employment Act pursuant to Order in Council P.C. 1976-779 of April 1, 1976;

Now therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

SHORT TITLE

1. This Act may be cited as the Status of Women Canada Act.

INTERPRETATION

2. The following definitions apply in this Act.

“Council” means the Advisory Council for Status of Women Canada established by the Minister under section 5.

“Minister” means the Minister responsible for Status of Women Canada.

“Status of Women Canada” means the Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women, designated as a department for the purposes of the Financial Administration Act and the Public Service Employment Act pursuant to Order in Council P.C. 1976-779 of April 1, 1976.

3. The Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women, referred to in section 2 is continued.

MANDATE OF STATUS OF WOMEN CANADA

4. The mandate of Status of Women Canada is to

(a) promote gender equality and the advancement and full participation of women in the economic, social, cultural and political life of the country;

(b) coordinate federal policy development relating to the status of women's equality and human rights;

(c) advise and assist the Minister in the coordination and promotion of governmental activities related to the status of women;

(d) encourage gender-sensitive policy making across the federal government, provide gender-based analysis training, tools and resources and evaluate their integration into the legislation, policies, programs and practices of the federal government;

(e) conduct an on-going review and evaluation of the federal government’s progress in advancing the status of women, with a focus on their economic autonomy and well-being and physical and psychological well-being, democratic participation and equal representation in elected and public offices at all levels of government and on reduction of violence against women and children;

(f) administer and fund programs that encourage and support action to further the advancement of women, including research and advocacy related to these programs;

(g) engage in consultations with the federal government, international agencies and Canadian organizations, communities, educational institutions, voluntary organizations, employers, unions and individual citizens; and

(h) monitor changing public attitudes towards the status of women and identify new needs and systemic barriers impeding wom- en's progress and make recommendations for improvements to the existing laws of Canada in this regard.

ADVISORY COUNCIL

5. (1) The Minister must establish the Council, the members of which are to be appointed by him or her, in accordance with subsection (3).

(2) The mandate of the Council is to

(a) advise the Minister and federal government officials and to make recommendations on matters relating to the status of women that the Minister or federal government official refer to the Council or that the Council deems appropriate;

(b) establish Council policy;

(c) publish matters of interest and concern to women, including its own findings and recommendations;

(d) carry out research on issues identified by the Council that would facilitate responses to the federal government’s legislative agenda;

(e) monitor research and the implementation of Council recommendations adopted by the federal government;

(f) represent the Council and liaise with women, as well as with local, provincial and territorial organizations on women’s issues; and

(g) organize meetings and consultations with women’s groups.

(3) The Council is to consist of up to 30 members and the Minister must make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the Council’s membership

(a) reflects a broad range of experience relating to the social, economic and democratic rights of women in Canada; and

(b) includes representatives from the various regional, cultural and linguistic groups of Canada, including representatives of Aborig­inal people and disabled persons.

(4) A member of the Council is to be appointed to hold office for a term not exceeding four years and is eligible for reappointment for one or more additional terms in the same capacity.

(5) The members of the Council may be removed by the Minister at any time for cause.

(6) The Minister must appoint a President and three Vice-Presidents from among the members of the Council.

(7) The Minister must appoint three Vice-Presidents to represent, respectively,

(a) the four Western provinces;

(b) southern Ontario and Quebec and the four Atlantic provinces; and

(c) northern Ontario and Quebec and the three territories.

(8) The President and three Vice-Presidents may be paid remuneration and expenses for their services in amounts that the Minister may set.

(9) The representatives appointed to the Council, other than the President and the three Vice-presidents, are to hold office without remuneration and must not be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the course of their duties.

REPORT

6. The President of the Council must, within three months after the termination of each financial year, prepare and lay before Parliament a report on the activities of the Council during that financial year.