Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much, Mr. Yussuff, Madame Smallman and Madame Desjardins. We appreciate receiving your amendments. I'm hoping they will be integrated into the legislation.
One element that I want to flag is the so-called scissors clause, which is under “Regulations” after clause 181 in the pay equity act. It basically allows the minister to exempt any class of employers from the application of any provision of this act. I would put this to you. Is it essential as well to remove that scissors clause that basically allows any government—current or future—to say pay equity doesn't apply? The whole banking industry could be exempt, for example.
My second question is to the Canadian Council for International Co-operation. There have been concerns raised about the provisions that allow federal government funding to the private sector in the event of a loss, guarantees that in whole or in part allow foreign aid in a sense—development assistance—to underwrite the private sector and private sector profits. Are you concerned? I image you're addressing that a bit in your comments. Are you concerned about those particular provisions if the bill gets through without amendment?