Evidence of meeting #13 for Status of Women in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was trafficking.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:10 a.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Michelle Tittley
Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum. We can now proceed to the election of the chair. I am ready to receive motions to that effect.
Ms. Neville.
11:10 a.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Anita Neville that Judy Sgro be nominated to the position of chair.
Are there any further nominations?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and the Honourable Judy Sgro duly elected as chair of the committee.
I will now proceed to the election of the vice-chair.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
11:10 a.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Stanton that Joy Smith be nominated as vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions for first vice-chair?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt that motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Joy Smith elected vice-chair of the committee.
I can now proceed to the election of a second vice-chair.
11:10 a.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by the Honourable Judy Sgro that Irene Mathyssen be nominated second vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any other motions to that effect?
11:10 a.m.
The Clerk
I am accepting other motions, if you'd like, for nomination.
It has been moved by Judy Sgro that Irene Mathyssen be nominated as second vice-chair of the committee. Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt that motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Irene Mathyssen elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
I can now invite Judy Sgro to take the chair.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you all very much for your support.
All our elections should be as difficult as that one for elected officials. I think we would all appreciate that kind.
Thank you very much for your support. I do appreciate it. I think we are trying to move forward on some important issues, and I appreciate the support from everyone here.
We have to adopt standard routine motions. Does everybody have the standard routine motions in front of them? I will have to read them into the record.
Number one is that the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.
I need someone to move that.
Pat Davidson moves that.
(Motion agreed to)
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Number two is on in-camera meeting transcripts: that one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk’s office for consultation by members of the committee.
That is moved by Bruce Stanton.
(Motion agreed to)
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Number three, staff in camera meetings: that, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings.
That's moved by Ms. Stronach.
(Motion agreed to)
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Number four, subcommittee on agenda and procedure: that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of the chair, the two vice-chairs, and a representative from the Bloc Québécois, and that the quorum of the subcommittee consist of at least three members, one of whom must be from the government.
Moved by Ms. Deschamps.
(Motion agreed to)
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Number five, witness travel expenses: that, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding one representative per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be at the discretion of the chair; and that, if requested, reasonable child care expenses of witnesses be reimbursed.
That is moved by....
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
I have a question. I noticed that the motion says “if requested”. I'm always concerned that people know about the availability of these funds for them to travel. Sometimes it's assumed by organizations that they have to pay for it themselves, and they don't know to ask. So how do we communicate to witnesses that they can ask for it, or do we communicate it to witnesses?
11:15 a.m.
The Clerk
When witnesses are contacted they are sent information documents, and within those documents it explains that there are allowances for travel expenses.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
As long as it's clear that it's available. That's fine, thank you.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Number six, 48 hour's notice: that except for amendments to bills, 48 hours’ notice be given before any substantive motion is considered by the committee; and that the motion be filed with the clerk of the committee and circulated to members in both official languages. Upon receipt of the notice, the clerk shall put the motion on the agenda of the committee’s next meeting.
Moved by Ms. Smith.
(Motion agreed to)
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
On working meals: that the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals for the committee.
Moved by Ms. Mathyssen.
(Motion agreed to)
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
On distribution of documents in both official languages: that the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the committee documents only when they exist in both official languages and that no document provided by a witness be distributed without the authorization of the clerk of the committee.
Moved by Ms. Mourani.
(Motion agreed to)
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Number nine, reduced quorum: that the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three members are present, including a member of the opposition.
Moved by Ms. Grewal.
(Motion agreed to)
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Number ten, time allowance for witness presentations and questioning by member rounds: that witnesses be given ten minutes to make their opening statement; that during the questioning of witnesses the time allocated to each questioner be as follows: on the first round of questioning, seven minutes to a representative of each party in the following order: Liberal Party, Bloc Québécois, Conservative Party, and New Democratic Party; on the following rounds of questioning, five minutes per party in the following order: Liberal Party, Conservative Party, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party, and Conservative Party.
Moved by Ms. Smith.
(Motion agreed to)
11:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Ms. Deschamps, I want to welcome you to our committee. I hope that you enjoy the important work we do here, and we're glad to have you with us. Welcome.
We don't have any witnesses today for a couple of reasons. One is that the clerk couldn't get any here today, with the short notice that she had, and is working on getting witnesses for Thursday.
I took the liberty of preparing a budget and a bit of a work plan. If the committee would like, we could go over these issues and get them done today so that we could hopefully start on Thursday with the witnesses. Is everyone comfortable with that?
The first issue on the table then would be the operational budget request for the study on human trafficking that we're going to be doing. If everyone could take a minute and go through that, you should have it in front of you.
Ms. Stronach.
