QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Indigenous Services
Forced Sterilization
April 30, 2019
Welcome again, Minister O’Regan. As Minister of Indigenous Services Canada whose mandate, among other objectives, is to improve health care services for Indigenous peoples, what steps has the ministry taken to investigate and stop coerced and forced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada, particularly when the last reported case of an Indigenous woman was in December of 2018, and especially after the United Nations Committee Against Torture recognized coerced and forced sterilization as an act of torture, also in December 2018?
First of all, senator, thank you very much for that question. Forced and coerced sterilization is a violation of human rights. It is deeply troubling that this could happen in our country. We know that addressing this requires collaboration with all orders of government, which is why Health Canada has initiated a federal-provincial-territorial working group to improve cultural safety and health systems. We will continue to work to ensure access to safe and culturally appropriate health services for all Indigenous women.
Let me add that Health Canada, by establishing an advisory committee on Indigenous women’s health and well-being, informs my department on current and emerging issues, including sexual and reproductive health. Officials are meeting with this advisory committee today. I look forward to hearing the outcome of that meeting.
