Evidence of meeting #11 for Status of Women in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was finance.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Danielle Bélisle

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

It is minuted that this was a consensus, and we agreed to follow the process.

4:15 p.m.

The Clerk

If it is minuted, I need to know exactly what I'm minuting.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

You're minuting that the committee agreed that for the process of hiring a consultant, a gender budget expert, the committee will be receiving from the analysts a summation of the findings from all witnesses who have come before us for gender budgeting. After we receive the summation, we will determine the parameters for the consultant and then we will choose the gender budget expert.

So I have not misrepresented anyone, right?

Is that a vote?

4:20 p.m.

The Clerk

You know that when there are bells, you need unanimous consent to keep on till when you want.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Yes, we know. We are quite a friendly committee here. It it's a half-hour bell, then we'll be fine.

The next item on the agenda is the court challenges program. I would like the committee's direction as to what you want us to do now. What do you want the analysts to do--prepare a report?

4:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

That's it. That was easy.

4:20 p.m.

The Clerk

Yes, that's an easy one, and we'll look at it when we come back at the beginning of January.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Basically, all the witnesses we've heard from have given us recommendations, so we have to do that. A report without a recommendation.... It will be a very short report.

Members of the committee, in 28 minutes we have to go for a vote to adjourn a debate on something--who knows what? So I need consent that we can continue on. We will leave at 4:30, because we'll have enough time to vote.

4:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Good.

So we've agreed that the report on the court challenges program will be a short with recommendations in it.

The last one is that we had asked ministers to come. We have one minister coming today, hopefully--not with the voting, etc. We have four more ministers who....

Have you had any responses from any of the four?

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC

We will have four after January.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Is that for after January? They've agreed?

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC

The four ministers have agreed to appear. I got confirmation of that earlier. After Christmas, of course.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Go ahead, tell us. What was the confirmation?

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC

I am talking about the invitations that we sent to four ministers. They were Hon. Diane Finley, Hon. Monte Solberg, Hon. Stockwell Day and Hon. Rob Nicholson.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Did they all say yes?

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC

Yes, they will tell us the exact date after Christmas.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Okay.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON

I believe that an e-mail was sent to the clerk indicating when they could come after the new year.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Have you received any?

4:20 p.m.

The Clerk

No, I haven't received an e-mail telling me. They've all called me and told me that they would like it to be in the following year. One asked if they could send officials in their place, and I said that's not the motion by the committee. I said that as soon as we know exactly when we'll be sitting and when you have time available, I'm going to slot them. I'm taking them as soon as they say yes.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON

Right, but my person did let you know they couldn't come today, and that they'd be coming in the new year.

4:20 p.m.

The Clerk

They're coming in the new year, yes, but with no specific date or anything.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON

Right, I don't think you had a date.