Status of Women Committee on Sept. 26th, 2006

[Belinda Stronach, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

I have a question. Within the overall envelope allocated to this committee, is it possible to also secure funding, or at what stage do we secure funding, for the other priority that we have, the economic security of women?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

It was decided at the last meeting that we were going to focus on human trafficking this session. In February, or whenever we start that one, a budget would be put forward. If it is in excess of $40,000, we'd go to the subcommittee on budgets. But we had already approved a budget for that study, and it will expire at the end of this year. We will then have to resubmit the budget request at that time, when we're ready to do it.

This budget here, if approved by committee, will go to the liaison committee because it's in excess of $40,000. I am a member of that committee, so I will do my best to get it approved.

Ms. Mourani.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair. Congratulations on your election.

I'd like an explanation regarding witness expenses. I note that we are planning to hear from eight witnesses from Vancouver and that we are covering their expenses which total $25,600. Then, we're planning on spending $12,000 to cover the expenses of eight witnesses from Quebec. Could someone explain to me the discrepancy between the two amounts? Do distance and airfare factor into the equation?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Clearly, if we are having to pay for the transportation for individual witnesses, for those who come from Toronto, Halifax, or Quebec it's probably much less expensive than flying in from Vancouver. It is also based on what Treasury Board guidelines indicate. If we have witnesses from the west, the guidelines already indicate these are the kinds of dollars we need to be looking at.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Will the witnesses be travelling first class or economy class?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

It's according to Treasury Board guidelines. I expect they are travelling economy. We could send off some information on the guidelines if you would like, but these things are put together in terms specific to them.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Has the witness count been finalized?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

No, not at all. This is just a proposal to try to cover off as many as possible of the witnesses who have been submitted by the committee who are pertinent to the kind of study we're doing, always remembering that we have to stay within the confines of this budget. When we decide which witnesses are best to provide us with the information we need, we have to keep the fact that we have a budget in mind as we go forward.

Mr. Stanton.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair, and congratulations on becoming our chair for the fall session.

In respect to where we are since the first of April, we set out a budget, I recall, back in the spring session. Are we ahead or behind where we expected to be? We're just looking at this period from September 25 to the Christmas break. Do we have any information on where we stand as a committee so far?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

We could probably provide that at our next meeting, to give us an update. I'm always very concerned with those things as well. But when we're initiating a specific study, we have to allocate specific dollars just to that study.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Yes, and I don't mean to be taking away from that, but one is incidental to the other. It's just for a point of information. I don't have any objections to what I see in front of me and I presume the clerk's office has provided these estimates more or less on the basis of what has been the experience in the past and the Treasury Board guidelines.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Very much so, and I have asked as we go forward to always be very aware what kind of dollars we're spending, so that when we have witnesses coming in from Vancouver or wherever we make sure we allocate sufficient time, so that we don't spend a lot of money for somebody to come for 10 or 15 minutes. I will be keeping that in mind and raising it to the committee, so that we make sure we allocate sufficient time as we move forward.

If we need additional funds we can always ask, if we think we're going over budget. We can go back to the committee and ask for additional dollars if necessary.

If there are no further questions, I need a mover of this motion.

Ms. Neville.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

It's just a question. I'm sorry, I've lost track. What is the motion on the budget?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

The motion would be that the proposed budget for the study on human trafficking, in the amount of $63,000 for the period September 26 to December 29, be adopted.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

My question is relevant to the budget. I'm looking at the proposed schedule, and there are an awful lot of meetings scheduled on human trafficking. I am wondering whether, in planning it, all of that time is required for it when you look at the agenda, and whether there is any way of condensing it by having panels of two or three or four at a time. I was struck by the number of meetings on this and would urge the clerk to put together panels of witnesses, not only for moving the agenda along but also because it creates a different dynamic in the room when you have more people and synergy.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Certainly I think we will try to do that. Depending on the information the witnesses are expected to give us, it is also important to make sure they have adequate time, so that we all have a good solid grasp of the issue as we move forward.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

I appreciate that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

We will be trying to do that.

So the budget is moved.

Ms. Smith.

[Joy Smith, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

That's a very good point, and I thank Ms. Neville for bringing it up.

Perhaps if you're looking at panels, which we have done frequently here at the status of women committee, we might look at the people.... I would suggest that people like Irene Soltys and Sylvain St-Jean from the RCMP and Irene Sushko from the Canadian Ukrainian Congress and The Future Group.... Those are people who work hands on, and I would suggest that we not put them on a panel, that we give them more time, because they will be able to put very strong current information forward to us. That's the suggestion I'd like to make.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

So the motion on the budget is moved by Ms. Smith.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

There is a proposal here on our work plan. We have been able to confirm Mr. Poulin for Thursday's meeting. So we do have one witness already confirmed.

We have basically what is in front of you. We've been able to confirm the RCMP for our October 3 meeting, and then we will have the minister here on October 5.

Mr. Stanton.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

In looking at the overall plan, I notice that on October 5, meeting 16, we're meeting on the response to reports 1 and 3. I don't see any other slot for consideration of the other reports. We have reports 2, 4, and 5. I see report 7 coming up there. I guess report 6 is missing too. I know we had the motion from Ms. Minna with respect to gender-based analysis, so is it the intention, then, to cover some of that ground in the minister's meeting on the 26th?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Yes. We had asked for the minister to come on the 26th as well, just given the fact that we need some time to get a sense from the minister as to her vision and direction, as well as to speak to, I believe, five reports in total. Then we still have main estimates at some point. We'll try to sort all of that out within two meetings, in fairness to the minister, so that she has sufficient time to be able to respond as well.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

But is it the intention to slot some time for those other reports, then?