International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Fifth Report of Canada
Part II - Measures Adopted by the Government of Canada

79.

In 2002 and 2004, the Government of Canada, in consultation with disability organizations, Aboriginal organizations, academic experts and disability researchers, released reports assessing Canada's progress towards achieving full inclusion for Canadians with disabilities. These reports present information about Canadians with disabilities, their families, the challenges they face in fully participating in Canadian society, as well as federal programs and initiatives that address these challenges. The reports can be found at: http://sdc.gc.ca/en/gateways/nav/top_nav/
program/odi.shtml.

80.

In addition to regularly reporting on progress, the Government of Canada is building the knowledge base on disability so that more can be known about disability and inclusion. For example, the federal government conducted the 2001 Participation and Activity Limitation Survey and is planning a follow-up survey in 2006. This is a major survey of Canadians with disabilities that provides a comprehensive national picture of many ways in which disability affects the lives of Canadians with disabilities.

81.

The Government has continued to invest in direct supports for Canadians with disabilities, in matters within its jurisdiction. For example, the Veterans Independence Program, a national home-care program primarily for veterans, has seen an increase in expenditures from $171.2 million in 2001-2002 to $201 million in 2003-2004 and are expected to continue upwards until 2010; and the 2004 federal budget introduced a new disability supports tax deduction to better address the expenses incurred by individuals in obtaining the disability assistance needed for work and school.

82.

To support the work of the disability community to advance inclusion, the Government makes direct investments to build the capacity of disability organizations. For example, the Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability Component, created in 1998, continues to fund national non-profit groups that work on social development for people with disabilities.

83.

As outlined in Canada's Fourth Report on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/pdp-hrp/docs/cesc-eng.cfm), the Government of Canada initiated a review of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the policies and practices of the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 1999. The final report of the Canadian Human Rights Act Review Panel, tabled in June 2000, contained 165 recommendations on issues ranging from structural and process changes to the addition of new grounds of discrimination. In particular, the Review Panel recommended the inclusion of social condition as a prohibited ground for discrimination. The Review Panel recommendations are currently under consideration. The Review Panel's report is available at http://www.justice.gc.ca/chra/en/index.html.

84.

The new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) referenced in Canada's Fourth Report on the ICESCR, became law on June 28, 2002. Included in the new legislation and regulations are provisions on:

• strengthened family reunification, including an expanded definition of the family class, one-year-window provisions for refugees, and ensuring that the best interests of the affected child are taken into account;
• a modern and balanced selection system for skilled workers, focussed on flexible and transferable skills as opposed to an occupation-based model;
• objective, transparent and flexible criteria to assess a person's right to retain permanent resident status;
• strengthened refugee protection, by consolidating multiple protection grounds extending beyond the 1951 Geneva Convention, ensuring prompt and fair processing of refugee protection claims made in Canada;
• enhancing the Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement program;
• a streamlined immigration appeal system; and
• maintaining the safety of Canadian society and respect for Canadian norms of social responsibility, including new inadmissibility provisions, though penalties for trafficking and smuggling, and clearer detention grounds.
  
  

85.

In addition, the IRPA requires that all decisions taken under the Act are consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that the Act be applied in a manner that complies with international human rights instruments to which Canada is a signatory. Canada remains committed to ensuring the successful integration and settlement of refugees.

86.

The Court Challenges Program (CCP), funded by the Government of Canada, provides funding for test cases of national significance in order to clarify the rights of official language minority communities and the equality rights of historically disadvantaged groups. An evaluation of the CCP in 2003 found that it has been successful in supporting important court cases that have a direct impact on the implementation of rights and freedoms covered by the Program. The individuals and groups benefiting from the CCP are located in all regions of the country and generally come from official language minorities or disadvantaged groups, such as Aboriginal people, women, racial minorities, gays and lesbians, etc. The Program has also contributed to strengthening both language and equality-seeking groups' networks. The Program has been extended to March 31, 2009.

87.

Canada reports more fully on its implementation of this article in its reports on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Canada's reports on CEDAW, an update paper and the statement made by the Head of Delegation during Canada's 2003 appearance before the CEDAW treaty body are available at www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/pdp-hrp/docs/cedaw-eng.cfm. In addition, information prepared for the anniversary of the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women, including Canada's response to the United Nations' questionnaire for Beijing+10, can be found at www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/unquestionnaire04/
index_e.html. These documents provide information on Canada's efforts to achieve equal rights and improve the situation of women.

88.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Status of Women was established in 2004. As of June 2005, the Committee has released reports on funding of women's equality-seeking organizations, gender-based analysis and pay equity. The reports are available on the Standing Committee's Web site (www.parl.gc.ca/committee/CommitteeHome.aspx?Lang=1&PARLSES=381&JNT=0&SELID=e17_&COM=8997).

89.

Under the Employment Insurance Act, the Canada Employment Insurance Commission has established Employment Benefits and Support Measures (EBSM) that provide active measures designed to assist unemployed Canadians return to work. EBSM assistance can include support for training, work experience, self-employment and job search. Between 2000 and 2004, of those participating in EBSMs, 45.2 percent were women; seven percent were Aboriginal people; 4.2 percent were persons with disabilities; and 5.1 percent were visible minorities.

90.

In the period 2000-2004, Canada had a labour force of 17 million people, of which 10 million belonged to the four groups designated under the federal Employment Equity Act: women, Aboriginal peoples, visible minorities and persons with disabilities. The Act supports the goal of improving the representation of the four designated groups in a large number of workplaces across Canada. Between 2000 and 2004, the Act applied to 450 federally regulated employers (with 640,000 employees), the federal public service (over 60 departments with 150,000 employees), the federal government special operating agencies (35 agencies with 60,000 employees), federal contractors (1,000 provincially regulated organizations with 1.2 million employees), and to Indian bands. The Act requires federally regulated employers to move toward a more representative work force by developing and implementing an employment equity plan. The plan, based on an analysis of the employer's workforce and a review of the employment systems to identify barriers, must contain flexible numerical goals (not rigid quotas) for the hiring and promotion of designated group members in those occupational groups where there is under-representation.

91.

Between 2000 and 2004, the representation of designated group members in the federal Public Service had evolved as follows, continuing to improve in all areas over the 1994 figures (see previous report): 3.3 percent in 2000 and 4.1 percent in 2004 for Aboriginal people; 5.5 percent in 2000 and 7.8 percent in 2004 for persons in a visible minority group; 4.7 percent in 2000 and 5.7 percent in 2004 for persons with disabilities; and 51.4 percent in 2000 and 53.1 percent in 2004 for women.

92.

The government has provided financial support to help departments and agencies implement employment equity across the federal Public Service. The Employment Equity Positive Measures Program (EEPMP) ended in March 2002 after providing support for close to 170 projects under its four components: the EE Intervention Fund; the EE Partnership Fund; the EE Career Development Office; and, the EE Enabling Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities. The EEPMP also developed an e-tool to foster continued sharing of positive practices and lessons learned among departments and agencies.

93.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) is developing three workplace equity strategies to further enhance employment equity: a Racism-Free Workplace Strategy, a Workplace Integration Strategy for Persons with Disabilities and a Workplace Integration Strategy for Aboriginal Peoples.

94.

An evaluation of the employment equity program for private sector federally-regulated employers was completed by an independent contractor in April 2002, and yielded positive results, but revealed weakness in the area of education. The Racism-Free Workplace Strategy is being designed to address the gap in education.

95.

Since April 1999, the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy (AHRDS), renewed until March 31, 2009, has been helping Aboriginal communities strengthen the ability of Aboriginal people to compete in the Canadian job market. The Strategy is helping Aboriginal people increase their self-sufficiency, build stronger communities, and develop long-term employment.

96.

Delivered through 80 Aboriginal Human Resources Development Agreement Holders, the Strategy has been designed with flexibility to meet the needs of individual Aboriginal communities and to respect the wide-ranging cultural diversity of those communities while ensuring accountability measures are in place.

97.

As part of the Government of Canada's response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the AHRDS was given a five-year, $1.6-billion budget to help Aboriginal communities and organizations take on the responsibility of developing and implementing their own employment and human resource programs. The Strategy has been extended for five years at the same funding levels.

98.

The largest share of the total funding goes towards the delivery of employment programs and services. In meeting the labour market needs of Aboriginal people throughout Canada, the direct involvement of Aboriginal organizations and the emerging network of partnerships are among the Strategy's strongest hallmarks. HRSDC, the lead department of the Strategy, works in partnership with five national Aboriginal organizations – the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (formerly known as Inuit Tapirisat of Canada), the Métis National Council, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, and the Native Women's Association of Canada.

99.

In June 2000, the Government of Canada endorsed an Action Plan prepared by the Task Force on the Participation of Visible Minorities in the Federal Public Service. The resulting Embracing Change Initiative, described in Canada's 15/16 Report on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/pdp-hrp/docs/cerd-eng.cfm) is a focused effort to make the Public Service of Canada reflect the country's reality with respect to diversity.

100.

There has been progress: over 5,200 visible minorities joined the workforce between 2000 and 2004. The number of visible minority executives has more than doubled, from 103 to 208. The rate of external recruitment was 5.7 percent in 1999-2000 and has increased to 10.1 percent. Overall, visible minority employees received 8.1 percent of all promotions in 2004, up from 6.3 percent in 2000. But challenges remain: visible minority representation in the public service workforce was 7.8 percent in 2004, well below the workforce availability figure of about 10.4 percent for visible minorities based on the 2001 Census. At one in 10, external recruitment of visible minorities among new entrants to the public service is also well below the Embracing Change benchmark of one in five.

101.

The Policy on the Duty to Accommodate Persons with Disabilities in the Federal Public Service came into effect in June 2002. The Policy requirements were strengthened to reflect the legal requirement to accommodate persons with disabilities to the point of undue hardship. The federal government is now developing a revised Employment Equity Policy that will, as required by law, extend the duty to accommodate to all groups protected by the Canadian Human Rights Act. A Directive on the Duty to Accommodate will set out requirements at a more operational level than the policy.

102.

Since March 2004, women's salaries have averaged $52,037, compared to men who earned $60,259. Women, therefore, earned 86.4 percent of men's salaries, representing a variance of 13.3 percent in wages. This variance is influenced in part by the distribution of men and women in employment categories and the entry into force of collective agreements. In fact, between April 2002 and March 2003, recruitment outside the Public Service was aimed at filling clerical support positions (a female dominated group) and in the computer sciences category (a male dominated group). Among the people hired from outside the Public Service, the average female salary was 92 percent of the average male salary, indicating a variance of eight percent, which is essentially the same as the previous year.

103.

The Youth Employment Strategy (YES) is outlined in Canada's Fourth Report under this Covenant. Each year since 1997, YES has helped over 80,000 young Canadians find employment.

104.

As a result of evaluation findings, YES programs were realigned in 2003-2004 to better meet the needs of the labour market. The revised YES programs will:

• be more responsive to the changing needs of the labour market;
• improve access to programs and services, particularly youth who face barriers to employment;
• provide youth with the skills to help them obtain and maintain employment;
• be more flexible and offer tailored, client-centred employment services to youth;
• build on existing partnerships and community collaboration to provide a broader mix of supports particularly to youth facing barriers;
• be more effective by ensuring that work experiences are career related and help advance participant's skills to create experts in their fields.

105.

To address identified gaps such as outreach, support services and skills enhancement activities, YES has been realigned into three new programs: Skills Link, Career Focus and Summer Work Experience. Skills Link provides funding to community organizations to help youth facing barriers to employment develop the knowledge and work experience they need to find a job. Career Focus offers post-secondary graduates a range of work experience and skill-building opportunities to broaden their skills and enhance their employability. Summer Work Experience helps students find career-related summer jobs by providing wage subsidies to employers.

106.

In addition to relevant information included in the Introduction to this report, information on initiatives of the Government of Canada in relation to social security can be found in Canada's most recent reports on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as Canada's Fourth Report on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. These reports are available at http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/pdp-hrp/docs/index-eng.cfm.

107.

The Government of Canada does not provide social assistance benefits directly to individuals. As discussed earlier in this report, the federal government provides funding to provincial and territorial governments through the Canada Social Transfer. Information on new developments pertaining to their implementation of this right may be found in Parts III and IV of this report.

108.

Information on the National Child Benefit (NCB) initiative is included in the Introduction to the present report.

109.

The Government of Canada contributes to the NCB initiative through a supplement to its Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) system. The NCB Supplement provides extra support to low-income families with children by topping up the monthly payments they receive under the CCTB system (see previous report).

110.

The Government of Canada has steadily increased its investment in the NCB Supplement. Under the current investment plan for the NCB, the annual federal investment to support Canadian families with children through the combined base benefit of the CCTB and the NCB Supplement is projected to reach $10 billion by 2007-2008. This will bring maximum annual federal child benefits for a two-child family to an estimated $6,259 by July 2007.

111.

In 2003, the Government of Canada introduced the Child Disability Benefit to recognize the special needs of low- and modest-income families with a child with a disability. As of July 2005, the maximum annual Child Disability Benefit will be $2,000 per eligible child. The Child Disability Benefit is delivered as a supplement to the CCTB.

112.

The Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2003-2004 outlines activities and expenditures undertaken by the federal government in support of young children and their families since implementation of the September 2000 federal/provincial/territorial Early Childhood Development (ECD) Agreement (see the Introduction to the present report). It provides information on a range of programs and supports for young children and families that are designed and delivered by the Government of Canada, including Maternity and Parental Benefits, the Child Care Expense Deduction, the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program, and the Community Action Program for Children. The report, which is available online at http://www.socialunion.ca/ecd_e.html, provides a comprehensive overview of the Government of Canada's investments in early childhood development between April 2000 and March 2004, in the areas of healthy pregnancy, birth and infancy; parenting and family supports; early learning and child care; and community supports.

113.

Under the 2002 Federal Strategy on Early Childhood Development for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children, which complements investments under the ECD Agreement, the Government of Canada is providing an additional $320 million over five years to enhance programs and services to help address the early childhood development needs of Aboriginal children.

114.

On April 22, 2004, the Government of Canada formally transmitted to the United Nations its plan of action for children – A Canada Fit for Children. Developed in response to commitments made at the U.N. General Assembly Special Session for Children in May 2002, this is a policy framework for action on children's issues over the next decade. It identifies specific ways to promote and protect the rights of all children and lays out a roadmap to guide Canada's collective efforts for and with children, both in Canada and throughout the world.

115.

The development of A Canada Fit for Children involved nation-wide consultations with a broad range of stakeholders representing all ages and all sectors of society, including Aboriginal people as well as children and youth themselves. It reflects a consensus on goals, strategies and opportunities for action on key priorities within four central themes: supporting families and strengthening communities; promoting healthy lives; protecting from harm; and promoting education and learning. Canada's next report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child will provide additional information on this plan of action.

116.

The most recent performance report for the Family Violence Initiative (FVI) of the Government of Canada indicates that there has been steady progress in addressing family violence in all its forms. Linkages have been strengthened with non-governmental organizations (including professional associations, academic institutions, family violence research centres, and those representing ethnocultural communities), front-line service providers, and private sector organizations concerned with family violence issues. This has contributed to a more collaborative, informed and multidimensional approach to addressing family violence.

117.

The performance report concluded that the FVI has made substantial progress in meeting the following performance expectations:

• strengthen the Initiative's horizontal management approach beyond information-sharing and networking among member departments to a greater emphasis on collective activity;
• advance partnerships, including collaboration with potential partners, with a renewed emphasis on strengthening existing links, including those with provincial and territorial governments;
• focus on the unique needs and circumstances of specific populations (Aboriginal peoples, people living in rural and remote communities, persons with disabilities and ethnocultural populations) through added emphasis on strengthening ties and increasing partnerships with national and community-based representative organizations;
• increase responsiveness to diversity, for example through programming, research and data collection;
• refine information dissemination strategies through the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence; and
• address any resource/reallocation needs through cooperative cost-sharing arrangements between member departments.
  
  

118.

According to Statistics Canada, there has been an overall decline in violence as it relates to women, family and spousal violence. In particular:

• Comparisons between the 1999 General Social Survey and the 1993 Survey on Violence Against Women point to a decline in the rate of spousal violence against women over time. About 12 percent of women reported being assaulted by a spouse in the five-year period prior to the 1993 survey, compared with eight percent who reported violence during a similar time period in 1999, a drop which is statistically significant. There was also a slight, but statistically significant, decline in the severity of assaults between these two time periods.
  
  
• Rates of spousal violence have dropped in 2001 and 2002, following a steady increase between 1998 and 2000. For both women and men, annual rates of spousal homicide have declined by about one-half during the past three decades.
  
  
• Since 1974, there has been a decline in the overall rate of family homicides recorded in Canada and in family homicides as a percentage of total homicides.
  
  

119.

As part of the FVI, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and its provincial and territorial partners provided over $73.9 million in funding for the Shelter Enhancement Program (SEP) from 2000 to 2003. The SEP assists in repairing, rehabilitating and improving existing shelters for women, children and youth as well as men who are victims of family violence, and in the acquisition or construction of new shelters and second stage housing where needed.

120.

The Government of Canada has taken a comprehensive policy approach to addressing poverty, with a particular emphasis on child poverty. This approach includes the joint intergovernmental initiatives mentioned in the Introduction to this report (equalization and transfer payments, National Child Benefit; Early Childhood Development Agreement; early learning and child care initiatives; affordable housing initiatives, health care) and financial supports and benefits for families and children.

121.

While Canada has no official measure of poverty, the Government of Canada typically uses Statistic Canada's after-tax low-income cut-offs (LICOs) as a proxy. For the population as a whole, Canada has seen its low-income rates decreasing, in recent years, from 15.7 percent in 1996 to 11.5 percent in 2003, which represents a decrease of approximately one million Canadians living in low income over this period. Low-income rates have also been on the decline for those groups more likely to experience low income. For example, the low-income rate for seniors has decreased from 9.8 percent in 1996 to 6.8 percent in 2003, and for children, the low-income rate went down from 18.6 percent in 1996 to 12.4 percent in 2003.

122.

The Government of Canada provides support directly to persons with disabilities through such instruments as the Canada Pension Plan and tax measures such as a new Child Disability Benefit. In addition, in 2003, the federal government created a Technical Advisory Committee to advise the government on how to improve tax fairness for persons with disabilities and those who care for them. In 2004, this Committee produced the report Tax Measures for Persons with Disabilities, and in 2005, the federal government committed to act on virtually all of the report's recommendations. The report can be found at: http://www.disabilitytax.ca/main-e.html.

123.

As detailed in Canada's Fourth Report on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, housing in Canada is governed by an extensive framework of legislation, policy and practice spanning all levels of government. At the federal level, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is Canada's national housing agency.

124.

CMHC's housing finance mandate is to promote housing affordability and choice and to contribute to the well-being of the housing sector in the national economy. CMHC provides mortgage loan insurance to lenders across Canada (including on reserve and in the North) and guarantees timely payment of interest and principal on Mortgage-Backed and Canada Mortgage Bond, thereby ensuring a steady source of funds for Canadian home buyers.

125.

For those whose needs cannot be met in the marketplace, CMHC provides housing subsidies to support Canada's social housing stock for low-income Canadians as well as to provide housing assistance for those with special/distinct needs under targeted initiatives.

126.

As low-income households are predominantly tenants, the private-sector rental stock plays an important role in meeting their shelter needs. Private rental accommodation provides the largest supply of affordable housing in Canada. In 2001, the average gross rent (the total of all payments for rent and utilities, including electricity, oil, gas, coal, wood or other fuels, water and other municipal services) for all non-farm, non-reserve rental dwellings was $649 per month. Just under 60 percent of all rental stock in Canada, or about 2.26 million dwellings, were renting for less than this average gross rent in 2001.

127.

Through mortgage loan insurance, homeowners have access to the lowest possible mortgage rates with a down payment as low as five percent, permitting more Canadian households access to homeownership. The introduction of innovations by CMHC over the past several years has included a flexible down payment product which permits a variety of down payment sources that are arm's length to the purchase transaction, an insured line of credit product, rental and homeowner refinance products, and a streamlined progress advance process. Policy enhancements have been made to mortgage portability, second homes and mortgage qualification for self-employed borrowers. CMHC also introduced enhancements to facilitate affordable housing through partnerships and recently introduced energy efficient incentives for homeowner and rental unit construction and renovations. These innovations have resulted in improved housing choice, access and affordability for Canadians.

128.

The mandate of the Canadian Centre for Public/Private Partnership in Housing (see previous report) was revised in 2003 to offer more tools for non-profit and private sector housing proponents who are planning to develop housing that is affordable, innovative, or community-based. The more affordable the proposed housing, the more Partnership tools there are available. Tools include seed funding, training, consultation services, interestfree proposal development loans and more flexible mortgage loan insurance to facilitate the financing of affordable housing. The Centre facilitated the production of some 22,800 affordable housing units between 2000 and 2004.

129.

The Introduction to this report provides additional information on housing assistance. Under CMHC's On-Reserve Non-Profit Rental Housing Program, which provides assistance in the form of subsidies for new rental housing, funding was committed for some 5,300 new units over the period 2000 to 2004.

130.

From 2000 to 2003 inclusive, over 79,400 units were committed under the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP). Rental RRAP, which helps to rehabilitate existing rental and rooming house accommodation (a stock that typically houses individuals "at risk" of homelessness) committed some 25,000 units, RRAP for Persons with Disabilities some 7,900 units, and RRAP On-Reserve made commitments for over 6,900 units.

131.

In addition, some 15,300 units received assistance under the Emergency Repair Program, and upgrades to over 15,800 units were made under Home Adaptations for Seniors' Independence. As well, repairs to existing units and new units were completed under the Shelter Enhancement Program.

132.

CMHC's electronic database for assessing housing conditions shows that, in 2001, there were 1.7 million households in core housing need. This represents about 16 percent, a decrease from 18 percent in 1996, of all households in Canada, with around two thirds of these being renter households.

133.

As in the past, the vast majority of households in core housing need in 2001 had affordability problems, rather than (or combined with) suitability or adequacy problems. Of all households in core housing need, 75 percent had only affordability problems, 16 percent had affordability problems combined with suitability and/or adequacy problems, while a further nine percent experienced either suitability and/or adequacy problems.

134.

Tenure differences are important; only seven percent of all owners, in contrast with 29 percent of all renters, were experiencing core housing need because of affordability. This contrast is associated with broad income differences between owners and renters. As a result, although renters constitute only 33 percent of all households in Canada, they make up some 64 percent of all households in core housing need.

135.

The second most frequently cited problem for people in core housing need in 2001 related to adequacy. About eight percent of all occupied dwellings in Canada were in need of major repairs in 2001. These figures have fallen dramatically over the past several decades. Most of the households living in these dwellings could afford to remedy these conditions themselves. While seven percent of all owners were living below adequacy standards, only two percent of all owners were actually in core housing need while experiencing adequacy problems. Though somewhat worse off, renters followed a similar pattern; while nine percent of all renters were living below adequacy standards, only four percent of all renters were actually in core housing need and experiencing adequacy problems.

136.

The third and least likely cause of core housing need in 2001 was crowded living conditions (suitability problems). The role of this factor continues to diminish. As with the other factors, tenure differences are evident, although, for both owners and renters, the majority of households living below suitability standards could have found suitable housing in their area for less than 30 percent of their income. While four percent of all owners were living below the suitability standard, only 0.4 percent of all owners were actually in core housing need because of suitability problems. While 11 percent of all renters were living below the suitability standard, only four percent of all renters were actually in core housing need because of suitability problems.

137.

In Canada, it is not feasible to measure housing need on the basis of waiting lists. Given the plurality of provincial, municipal and community organizations providing assisted housing, many people seeking this accommodation sign onto as many lists as possible. Despite some attempts to consolidate these lists, there continues to be a serious problem of over counting. Moreover, households on waiting lists typically are not without shelter. People who become homeless qualify for assistance programs in the form of emergency shelter or hotel accommodation, through general social assistance programs rather than housing programs. At the same time, they are more likely to have high priority for social housing, as most providers use a point-rating system, which relies on such criteria as affordability, adequacy, suitability, household size, refugee status, imminent eviction and domestic violence.

138.

Since its creation in December 1999, the National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) has achieved the following:

• created over 10,000 new emergency, transitional and supportive housing beds for the homeless;
• funded over 900 projects for the purchase, construction or renovation of sheltering facilities;
• funded over 500 projects for the purchase, construction or renovation of support facilities, including food and clothing banks, drop-in centres and soup kitchens;
• funded over 1,200 projects to improve or establish new support services, including training, skills development, counselling, and the provision of materials, such as clothing and/or blankets, for homeless people and those at risk.
  
  

139.

While progress has been achieved, the following challenges have been identified:

• Cooperation: Community service providers have voiced concerns about the lack of cooperation and coordination between the NGOs and the various levels of government.
• Funding concerns: Service providers are requesting a stable source of funding for their programs.
• Long-term strategies: The NHI's goal is to move beyond emergency relief and to focus on more long-term strategies for eradicating homelessness (improved housing, literacy, education, skills development, and mental health care).

140.

Information on significant federal-provincial-territorial initiatives in the area of health care is provided in the Introduction to the present report.

141.

Following recommendations from leading public health experts in the wake of a SARS outbreak, in September 2004, the Government of Canada announced the launch of the Public Health Agency and the appointment of Canada's first Chief Public Health Officer. The Public Health Agency focusses on public health issues of importance, ensures clear federal leadership in the case of a health emergency and provides coordinated, coherent response to public health issues domestically and internationally. It will enhance efforts to prevent chronic and infectious diseases and injuries, respond to public health emergencies and disease outbreaks, work to keep Canadians healthy and help reduce pressures on the health care system.

142.

Since its creation, the Agency established measures to deal with public health emergencies including:

• inclusion of health within the National Security Policy,
• development of a National Health Emergencies Management System,
• renewal of the Quarantine Act,
• development of the National Smallpox Contingency Plan,
• strategic review of the National Emergency Stockpile System, and
• development of the Health Emergency Response Team concept.
  
  

143.

The Government of Canada is establishing six National Collaborating Centres for Public Health. Building on regional expertise, the centres will provide national focal points for key priority areas in public health and contribute to the development of a pan-Canadian public health strategy mentioned in the Introduction to this report. The overarching mission for these Centres is to build on existing strengths, create linkages and foster collaboration among researchers, the public health community and other stakeholders to contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of Canada's public health infrastructure. The Centres, located across Canada, will facilitate the generation and sharing of knowledge that can inform the development of programs, policies and practices that affect the health of Canadians.

144.

The six centres will work on the following priority areas in public health:

• Determinants of Health
• Public Policy and Risk Assessment
• Infrastructure, Info-structure and New Tools Development
• Infectious Diseases
• Environmental Health
• Aboriginal Health
  
  

145.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) was created in June 2000 as the Government of Canada's agency for health research. With an annual base budget of $662 million, CIHR supports the work of over 9,100 Canadian health researchers who have met internationally accepted standards of excellence. CIHR is funding research in priority areas, including: Aboriginal health and skills development; access to health care; gender and health; child and youth health; and solidifying Canada's place in the world.

146.

In 1999, Health Canada released its Women's Health Strategy. The Strategy provides a framework to guide legislative, policy and program work towards improving the health of women in Canada and creates a vision for a multi-sectoral, interdisciplinary, determinants of health approach with operational and horizontal policy commitments to address women's health issues.

147.

Health Canada is redeveloping the Women's Health Strategy to influence the vision for future work. The development of a renewed plan of action on women's health, with targeted objectives, will focus research, policy and program work from a gender, diversity and life-course perspective. It will take into account emerging knowledge and the voices of civil society to meet the needs of women for today and tomorrow.

148.

In September 2004, a special meeting with the First Ministers and Aboriginal leaders was held to discuss joint actions to improve Aboriginal health, and adopt measures to address the disparity in the health status of this population (see Introduction to this report). In support of the agreed upon directions, the Government of Canada announced total funding in the amount of $700 million for a series of new federal commitments that will address urgent and critical aspects of a longer-term plan:

• $200 million for an Aboriginal Health Transition Fund (AHTF) to enable governments and communities to devise new ways to integrate and adapt existing health services to better meet the needs of Aboriginal people. The AHTF comprises three funding areas: pan-Canadian; provincial and territorial; and regional and local initiatives.
  
  
• $100 million for an Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative to increase the number of Aboriginal people choosing health care professions; adapt current health professional curricula to provide a more culturally sensitive focus; and improve the retention of health workers serving Aboriginal people. This initiative will help build a workforce that will meet the unique health service needs of Aboriginal peoples.
  
  
• $400 million for health promotion and disease prevention programs focusing on diabetes, suicide prevention, maternal and child health, and early childhood development. The Government of Canada has demonstrated strong commitment to working with Aboriginal organizations and communities to address the disparity in health status between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Canada.
  
  

149.

The First Nations infant mortality rate has been steadily decreasing since 1979, when it peaked at 27.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, 2.5 times the Canadian rate. In 2000, the First Nations infant mortality rate had dropped to 6.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared with 5.5 per 1,000 for Canada.

150.

Health Canada is currently working with Aboriginal organizations, women, academic experts and stakeholders to develop an action plan to address the health issues of Aboriginal women and girls, and to articulate a vision of wellness.

151.

Understanding that health is more than the absence of disease and encompasses the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual capacity to live fully, the federal government invests in approaches, which will protect and improve the health of people with disabilities and all Canadians. The Government of Canada funds public health protection, health promotion and many health research projects that benefit people with disabilities and contributes to the funding of provincial and territorial health care systems. In addition, the federal government provides direct supports through programming. For example, the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability provides national leadership, support, encouragement and information to organizations and individuals with disabilities to promote health through active living. In 2002, the federal government launched a strategy for assessing and treating post-traumatic stress disorder and other operational stress injuries; and the First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program offers an array of home-care services to First Nation and Inuit people with chronic and acute illnesses.

152.

As outlined in the Introduction to the present report, the Government of Canada provides funding to the provinces and territories in support of post-secondary education through the Canada Social Transfer.

153.

New federal investments in education include the introduction of a Canada Learning Bond and enhancements to the Canada Education Savings Grant. These investments, enacted through the Canada Education Savings Act, which came into effect on July 1, 2005, are intended to promote access to learning opportunities by encouraging Canadian families to save for their children's post-secondary education. Up to 4.5 million children from low- and middle-income families will benefit from the additional Canada Education Savings Grant rates.

154.

The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation has extended eligibility for its bursaries and scholarships to individuals considered to be protected persons such as Convention refugees.

155.

Established in 1998, the Aboriginal Languages Initiative (ALI) supports community and home initiatives for the revitalization and maintenance of Aboriginal languages leading to an increased number of speakers, the expansion of the areas in which Aboriginal languages are spoken in communities and inter-generational transmission of the languages.

156.

ALI is delivered through collaborative efforts of the Department of Canadian Heritage and three national Aboriginal organizations and their affiliates: the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Métis National Council. Outputs of this initiative include language strategies; instruction; courses and teaching programs; resource materials; audio and video recordings; transcriptions, translations and other documentation; surveys and promotion materials.

157.

In December 2002, recognizing the need for enhanced safeguards for First Nations, Inuit and Métis languages, the Government of Canada announced that it would contribute $172.5 million over 11 years to preserve, revitalize and promote Aboriginal languages and cultures. The three-phased action plan for this commitment included: extension of ALI, which will sunset in 2006; establishment of a Task Force on Aboriginal Languages and Cultures to make recommendations to the Minister of Canadian Heritage; and creation of a national Aboriginal languages and culture entity.

158.

The Task Force completed its examination of a broad range of measures to renew and sustain Aboriginal languages within the context of a national strategy and presented its report to the Minister in June 2005. The report, entitled Towards a New Beginning: A Foundational Report for a Strategy to Revitalize First Nation, Inuit and Métis Languages and Cultures, is available online at www.aboriginallanguagestaskforce.ca. The Government is currently assessing the recommendations, which will inform its strategy to support the preservation, revitalization and promotion of the languages and cultures of Aboriginal peoples of Canada.