Status of Women Committee on Oct. 5th, 2006

[Florence Ievers]

You'd have to put that question to the Minister.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Yes. My understanding, since you say that...

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Excuse me, Ms. Mourani. A point of order has been raised by Ms. Smith.

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

There are a few comments that have been put on the record here today. One was about the advocacy question, and there were other things about the budget. Maria Minna said that the voice of Canadian women has been shut down because the advocacy has been shut down.

On a point of order, I want to indicate that the people who are answering these questions now are officials, not the minister. They're doing a great job, but as Ms. Ievers has just pointed out, things are just starting to get settled and organized. At this time to make a statement like I heard earlier.... The minister is not shutting down the voice of Canadian women; she is trying to make sure that problems are solved, and to promote the voice of women in Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you, Ms. Smith.

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

Just hear me out for a minute, Madam Chair.

So when we listen to all these different questions, I think it might be unfair--

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

I'm not sure that's a point of order, Ms. Smith.

I will ask Ms. Ievers if she can respond quickly. I think that will be our last question and answer session.

Ms. Ievers.

[Florence Ievers]

Yes, I will continue.

The $5 million budget cut will apply starting next April 1st to future years.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Will it be $5 million a year?

[Florence Ievers]

Five million dollars will be cut from Status of Women Canada's operating budget.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Do you mean every year?

[Florence Ievers]

We're still talking about the same $5 million.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

So, when the Treasury Board Secretariat talks about $5 million over a two-year period, that is not in fact correct.

[Florence Ievers]

Some cuts announced by the Treasury Board apply to the current and the next fiscal years. The cuts do not apply to us this year. They will only come into effect starting on April 1st.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

I see.

[Florence Ievers]

That's why we are not in a position to give you the details today. That work remains to be done.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

So, when the Minister says she consulted with you about the $5 million cut, that is not actually true. You say there will be a $5 million cut, but you don't know yet where it will be made. Is that correct?

[Florence Ievers]

What the Minister is saying is that in the next few years, we will be working with her to determine how the $5 million in cuts will be made. That's what she said.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

That means that the $5 million cut that has been announced is a figure taken out of thin air and that, in actual fact, it has not yet been determined where the cuts will be made. Is that correct?

[Florence Ievers]

That's a question you should put to the Minister.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

To the Minister? Yes. That's a very good question to put to her.

Madam Chair, you interrupted me.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

The department has not had the opportunity, given that the announcement was recent, to decide where those cuts are going to be. They will spend the next several months or weeks, whatever it takes, defining how they will meet their budgetary restrictions. So the department can't answer those questions because they haven't made that decision.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

I was interrupted. Could the witness be given a chance to answer my question with respect to the Women's Program?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

No.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

No? I also asked a question about the program, namely when the new criteria would go into effect.