A/HRC/11/37 242. At its 14th meeting, on 9 June 2009, the Council considered and adopted the outcome of the review on Canada (see section C below). 243. The outcome of the review on Canada comprises the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/11/17), the views of Canada concerning the recommendations and/or conclusions, and its voluntary commitments and its replies presented before the adoption of the outcome by the plenary to questions or issues that were not sufficiently addressed during the interactive dialogue in the Working Group (see also A/HRC/11/17/Add.1). 1. Views expressed by the State under review on the recommendations and/or conclusions as well as on its voluntary commitments and the outcome 244. The Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations Office at Geneva indicated that Canada had submitted a written response that addressed the 68 recommendations contained in the Working Group report as well as other recommendations submitted in writing by States that were unable to speak at the review owing to time constraints. 245. As outlined in its response, Canada accepted 32 recommendations, accepted in part 22 recommendations, and did not accept 14 recommendations. Canada also made a number of voluntary commitments in the response. To inform its response to these recommendations, Canada held meetings with non-governmental organizations and Aboriginal representatives, and also conducted online consultations through a web portal. Canada worked with all the actors involved in the implementation of the recommendations or on which the recommendations would have an impact to prepare its national response for the plenary session. Interest in the follow-up to the review had been strong, from Governments to civil society organizations and Parliamentarians. Two parliamentary committees were examining the results of the universal periodic review of Canada. In support to these ongoing discussions, the Government of Canada committed to submit the outcome of the review of Canada to its Parliament. 246. Canada elaborated on some issues addressed in its written responses. Regarding Aboriginal peoples, new funding had been allocated to support training to improve labour market outcomes for Aboriginal people and to address First Nations on-reserve housing, as well as infrastructure needs. Canada continued to support practical partnership approaches with Aboriginal organizations and provincial and territorial governments on the delivery of First Nations and Inuit health programme and child and family services. On 11 June 2008, the Prime Minister of Canada had offered a historic statement of apology to former students of Indian residential schools. A truth and reconciliation commission had been established in 2008 and Canada committed to considering its future recommendations. 247. Governments in Canada were working to advance equality for women and to ensure the protection of their rights, including by exploring ways to facilitate women’s labour force participation and economic security, improve the lives of Inuit, Métis and First Nations women, both on and off reserve, and address violence against women. Domestic violence courts had been established in many jurisdictions. Canada committed to identifying the causes of violence against Aboriginal women and developing appropriate responses, in consultation with Aboriginal and civil society organizations. Governments were working together to strengthen preventative measures and improve the response of the criminal justice system to violence against all women, including Aboriginal women. 248. Governments in Canada were taking measures to respond to the social and economic needs of Canadians. Provincial and territorial governments had policies and programmes aimed at reducing poverty; four had implemented poverty reduction strategies. As a result of these measures, in the past decade, low-income rates for seniors, women, and children GE.09-16766 95