Acting as a national, unified voice for the shelter sector in Canada, Women’s Shelters Canada engages with individual MPs and Parliamentary Standing Committees on a variety of issues.

Presentation to the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
1 November 2023
Lise Martin, WSC Executive Director, spoke to the Committee about Bill C-21.
Read the full submission

Submission to the virtual panel hosted by Justice Canada
13 October 2023
WSC submitted a written submission to Justice Canada as part of their panels exploring the creation of a coercive control offence.
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Submission to the House of Commons Finance Committee
2 August 2023
WSC submitted a written submission for the pre-budget consultations in advance of the upcoming 2024 Federal Budget.
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Presentation to Standing Committee on Public Safety
3 November 2022
Lise Martin, WSC Executive Director, spoke to the Committee about Bill C-21.
Read the full submission

Submission to the House of Commons Finance Committee
7 October 2022
WSC submitted a written submission for the pre-budget consultations in advance of the upcoming 2023 Federal Budget.
Read the full submission

Presentation to the House of Commons Finance Committee
22 April 2021
Lise Martin, WSC Executive Director, spoke to the Committee about the COVID-19 Emergency Federal Funding for VAW Shelter/Transition houses.
Watch the full presentation

Presentation to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women
7 July 2020
Kaitlin Geiger-Bardswich, WSC Communications and Development Manager, appeared as a witness at the Committee’s study of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on women.
Read the full statement

Presentation to the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
18 March 2019
Lise Martin, WSC Executive Director, appeared as a witness at the Committee’s study of Bill C-71, an Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms.
Read the full statement

Brief to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights
16 November 2018
WSC submitted a brief on Bill C-78: An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act and the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act. WSC fully endorses the recommendations provided by Luke’s Place Support and Resource Centre and the National Association of Women and the Law.
Read the full brief

Presentation to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women
17 October 2018
Lise Martin, WSC Executive Director, appeared as a witness at the Committee’s study on the system of shelters and transition houses serving women and children affected by violence against women and intimate partner violence.
Read the full statement

Letter to Jean-Marie David on Bill C-71
31 May 2018
Women’s Shelters Canada wrote to Jean-Marie David, Procedural Clerk, to provide recommendations to Members of the Standing Committee on Public Health and National Security in their review of Bill C-71 and the prevention of firearm-related violence against women living in rural areas in Canada.
Read the letter

Letter to Minister Duclos to Reinstate the Shelter Enhancement Program
13 September 2017
Women’s Shelters Canada, along with our member provincial and territorial shelter associations, calls on the Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos to reinstate the Shelter Enhancement Program (SEP) as part of the National Housing Strategy being announced later this fall.
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Letter Congratulating Minister Monsef on Her Appointment
13 January 2017
The Network writes to congratulate Minister Monsef on her appointment as Minister for Status of Women.
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Letter to Minister Bennett re Support for Indigenous Women and Girls
19 December 2016
The Network supports the call by Amnesty International Canada to close the funding gap to ensure safety and support for Indigenous women and girls escaping violence.
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Letter to Minister Duclos re Funding Announcement for Shelter Construction and Renovation
21 April 2016
The Network writes to Minister Duclos to express questions and concerns about the government’s recent announcement to commit 89.9 million dollars over the next two years for shelter construction and renovation.
Read the letter

Letter Congratulating Minister Hajdu on Her Appointment
9 November 2015
The Network writes to congratulate Minister Hadju on her appointment as Minister for Status of Women.
Read the letter