Status of Women Committee on Feb. 3rd, 2014

[The Clerk]

For Wednesday—

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Who is already arranged to come, whether it's Wednesday or for next week?

[The Clerk]

Technically, I was not able to send formal invitations because we didn't have a chair, so I didn't have instructions to invite people. But informally, I have contacted witnesses only for Wednesday.

Would you like to know who was invited?

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Yes, I would.

[The Clerk]

The National Eating Disorder Information Centre, the Canadian Foundation for Women's Health, Dr. April Elliott, and the Mental Health Commission of Canada are the four witnesses that were contacted for Wednesday. I'm waiting to hear from them to confirm if they will be able to attend. We should be able to have three or four witnesses for Wednesday.

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

I'm sorry, the second was the Canadian Foundation for Women....

[The Clerk]

The second one was the Canadian Foundation for Women's Health.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

We have to understand that those four witnesses have not quite confirmed that they will be here, but there is a good likelihood that we will be able to hear four witnesses Wednesday. Briefing notes prepared by the researchers will also be distributed. I am talking about the general briefing notes. At a certain point, we did not have a chair, as you will recall. However, everything was done and we will be able to resume our study on Wednesday.

Ms. Sellah, you have the floor.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Madam Chair, when will those notes be sent? We are talking about the parliamentary briefing notes...

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

The notes prepared by the researchers.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

The notes prepared by the researchers and that relate to the witnesses who are to appear before us, correct?

[Laura Munn-Rivard, Committee Researcher]

They are sent to you 24 hours before the meeting.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

You send them 24 hours...

[Laura Munn-Rivard]

Yes, we send them 24 hours before the meeting.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

You give us time to read them and to prepare accordingly.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Yes, we proceed as usual.

Ms. Truppe, you have the floor.

[Susan Truppe, Conservative, London North Centre, ON]

Thank you.

I just want to ask the clerk whether we are giving them until a certain time. Today is Monday, so would we give them until noon tomorrow, and then if we don't hear back we can maybe quickly email some others to ask if they are available by video conference? It's very short notice, then, to try to replace them, but we don't want to waste our time either by not having anyone since time is so precious.

[The Clerk]

Actually, right after the meeting, they're going to receive their formal invitation, but they're all expecting the invitation. They all know it's coming.

[Susan Truppe, Conservative, London North Centre, ON]

Good, perfect.

Thanks.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

I am pleased to note the committee members' level of motivation. In addition, I think that the clerk rose to the occasion, as did the researchers. It is clear that you really want to continue this study and I think that they have responded to the call, despite the small constraints we encountered. In summary, everything is ready for Wednesday's meeting.

I would like to direct your attention to the budget which was submitted to you. It was prepared by the clerk who based her work on previous studies and on the number of witnesses we are expecting to hear for this study, while taking into account some of the members' suggestions, such as holding videoconferences when that is possible. Are there any questions or comments?

Ms. Sellah, you have the floor.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I took a look at it and as you said, these are approximate figures. I see that there may be a videoconference to hear five people from outside of Canada.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Simply if some of the experts are from abroad. That is not a fixed amount.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

I did say that these were approximate figures. When we refer to outside of Canada, does that mean that people are from abroad?

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Yes, we could for instance have a videoconference to hear people in the United Kingdom, in Australia or elsewhere, who might have information to impart. They could talk to us about innovative practices in their country, or provide us with enlightening information on our topic.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

How very interesting. This is the first time I have seen a committee consider inviting witnesses from outside of the country. That could be a good idea; why not?