Legislation to Improve the Rights of Women and Their Families on First Nation Reserves Passes Third Reading in the House of CommonsJune 11, 2013,Ottawa, Ontario (June 11, 2013) - Today, the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, announced that the Harper Government's Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act passed third reading in the House of Commons. The Bill aims at ensuring women and families living on First Nation reserves have access to the same matrimonial rights as those living off reserves.
"I am proud our Government is taking action to ensure that families living on reserve have similar rights and protections as other Canadians. In particular, Aboriginal women and children will particularly benefit from this important legislation," said Minister Valcourt. "This law will encourage First Nations to create and apply their own matrimonial real property laws that respect their own culture and traditions."
Bill S-2, Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act, aims to provide families living on reserve with similar protections and rights as those living off reserve in the event of a relationship breaking down, or upon the death of a spouse or common-law partner. It will also protect people living on reserves in situations of family violence.
Under Bill S-2, First Nations will have the choice of enacting their own laws related to matrimonial real property, laws that can be designed to meet their particular needs and respect their customs, or following the provisional federal rules. A 12-month transition period was added to the bill to provide some time for First Nations to enact their own laws before the federal rules take effect.
"Women living on-reserve will finally enjoy the same real property rights as every other member of our society," said Minister Ambrose. "This new law will also save lives – by giving Aboriginal women access to emergency protection orders in violent situations."
When this Act comes into force, judges will be able to issue emergency protection orders, remove violent partners from the family home and allow courts to apply First Nations' own matrimonial real property laws that respect their culture and traditions once those laws are enacted.
The Harper Government remains deeply committed to further protecting the rights of Aboriginal people, particularly women living on reserves. With Bill S-2 our Government is taking steps to ensure the equitable distribution of real property assets in the event of death, divorce or separation.
The Government of Canada remains focused on four priorities, as outlined by the Prime Minister, that Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen of this country, and their personal financial security.
Harper Government Increasing Participation of Women on Corporate BoardsJune 10, 2013,Ottawa – The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Minister for Status of Women, today chaired the meeting of the federal government's advisory council to promote the participation of women on corporate boards.
"Increasing opportunities for women to serve on corporate boards makes good business sense for Canadian women and for Canada's economy," said Minister Ambrose. "Businesses with more women on their boards routinely outperform those with fewer. Therefore, I am pleased to chair this meeting of distinguished Canadians to find ways Canada can increase the representation of women on corporate boards."
While many women lead successful businesses and are active members of corporate boards, they remain under-represented. Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012 announced the creation of an advisory council of leaders from the private and public sectors to promote the participation of women on corporate boards.
Minister Ambrose added "board diversity is not about quotas or tokenism. Board diversity is about better corporate decisions, better responses to market demographics, and better financial performance. It is also about the future, and having more women in key leadership positions to serve as role models for young women and girls."
The advisory council is comprised of women and men representing a wide range of experience within the corporate sector. Its mandate is to:
- Provide advice on how industry can increase women's representation on corporate boards;
- Suggest how industry and government can track and measure progress in this initiative and what tools, if any, government should employ to achieve this goal; and,
- Make recommendations on how the government could recognize leaders in industry and applaud companies that have succeeded in reaching their targets.
The advisory council is expected to make its recommendations by the fall of 2013.
The Harper Government is committed to strengthening Canada's economy with initiatives that create jobs while supporting families and communities. The federal government's support through Status of Women Canada for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, supporting 600 projects across the country.
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Minister Ambrose Applauds Dress for Success OttawaMay 31, 2013,
OTTAWA, ON — The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today applauded Dress for Success Ottawa on the occasion of its annual Stepping Out gala fundraising event.
"Thanks to Dress for Success Ottawa, local women have access to the career development tools, the support and the resources they need to enter – or re-enter – the workforce," said Minister Ambrose. "I congratulate Dress for Success Ottawa for empowering women as they transition into the workforce."
Dress for Success Ottawa is a non-profit, charitable organization that provides women with the professional attire, practical support and tools they need to succeed in the workplace and in society. Since 2011, the organization has assisted more than 450 women to make the transition to financial independence.
Proceeds from the Stepping Out gala event will be used to support Dress for Success Ottawa’s operations and programming. For more information on the organization and its initiatives, go to www.dressforsuccess.org/affiliate.aspx?sisid=139&pageid=1.
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Government of Canada makes progress on Seven-Point Plan to replace Canada's CF-18 fleetMay 31, 2013,
GATINEAU, Quebec — The National Fighter Procurement Secretariat today is providing an update on the Government of Canada’s progress on the Seven-Point Plan to replace the CF-18 fleet. In April 2012, the Government launched the Seven-Point Plan in response to the Auditor General’s report, to restore public confidence and reset the process to replace the CF-18 fleet. In December 2012, the Secretariat reported on the work undertaken to date, and today the Secretariat is reporting on the significant progress made.
Regarding the first and second points of the Seven-Point Plan, the acquisition funding for the replacement of the CF-18 remains frozen and the Secretariat continues to implement the Seven-Point Plan.
On point three, with regard to the Department of National Defence Annual Update on the cost of the F-35, the American data from the Joint Strike Fighter Program office was provided to the United States Congress on May 23. Canadian government officials will be meeting with United States officials to receive and clarify the Canadian-specific data. Consistent with the Seven-Point Plan commitment to provide an update within a maximum of 60 days, National Defence’s 2013 Annual Update to Parliament on the cost of the F-35 will be ready over the summer and tabled at the earliest opportunity.
The focus of the Secretariat’s work over the past few months has been on the fourth point, the evaluation of options. Companies with available aircraft have been engaged through questionnaires on fighter aircraft capabilities, price and industrial benefits. Companies were briefed on the assessment methodology for the capability questionnaire on May 3, 2013 and price and industrial benefits questionnaires on May 31, 2013. The assessment methodology was posted today on the Secretariat web site. This methodology, the three questionnaires and the approach to options analysis have been developed by the Secretariat and the Royal Canadian Air Force, and reviewed and challenged by the Independent Review Panel. The Panel is meeting regularly and is ensuring the work to evaluate options is both rigorous and impartial. The members of the Panel are Mr. Keith Coulter, Mr. Philippe Lagassé, Mr. James Mitchell and Mr. Rod Monette.
Regarding the fifth point, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton has been awarded a competitive contract to conduct an independent review of the National Defence 2013 Annual Update.
On the sixth point, the Secretariat has also competitively contracted Samson & Associates to provide lessons learned that could improve acquisitions of a similar nature going forward.
Finally, on point seven, the Secretariat is releasing the latest report on Industrial Participation in the Joint Strike Fighter Program. The report indicates that Canadian companies have secured US$488 million in contracts to date, an increase of US$50 million since the last report in December 2012. It also indicates that the total value of identified opportunities could be up to US$9.75 billion.
The evaluation of options to replace Canada’s CF-18 fleet is a key element of the Government of Canada’s Seven-Point Plan. The Government of Canada is committed to examining all options. Until the Seven-Point Plan is complete, the Government will not make a decision on the replacement for the CF-18 fighter jets and all options remain on the table.
A backgrounder follows.
For additional information, visit the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat website athttp://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/stamgp-lamsmp/snac-nfps-eng.html.
