Evidence of meeting #2 for Status of Women in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was move.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
I would still like the opportunity to at least look at them and see what they say before I....
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
I got them off the website yesterday, from the Status of Women's website.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Yes, there's gender-based analysis, and women's employment, as well as the parental benefits--
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
--and the pay equity one. We had not received a response back from the previous government on the parental benefits one because it was tabled very close to the time that the government fell, but it would be very interesting and helpful to us as we move forward for the fall if we could get a response from the government on all of those.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Would it be too onerous on this committee if we waited until Tuesday so I had a chance to read them?
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
The clerk will circulate proper copies rather than what's coming off the website and we'll deal with that as the first order of business on Tuesday so that we can be moving along. We'll try to see what we can outline for next week.
Are there any other issues? Sorry, my list keeps growing here.
Ms. Mourani.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Budgetary appropriations are currently being examined. In one of the reports on funding, mention was made of increasing the budget for the Women's Program by 25 per cent. I would appreciate it if my government colleagues could put in a good word when the estimates are reviewed. It's important that these groups have the funding they need to provide the services women deserve. As you know, when we talk about women, we also include children and men.
No one has yet to explain to me clearly how budgetary appropriations are reviewed. Nor do I know how much money will be allocated to these programs. However, -- and experienced members will correct me if I'm wrong - it was my understanding that a 25 per cent increase had been proposed. Since the estimates are now being examined, shouldn't we press the government on this matter without further delay?
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
I believe I'd already made my point, but I would like to reiterate that electoral reform is an important part of what I'd like to see this committee look at as well, since I didn't hear it in the list.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
When we come back on Tuesday we'll have this down in some sort of a structure and we'll look and see how we can find an opportunity to be brought up to date on what's happening on electoral reform as well. We'll put that into a bit of a work plan that we'll present to the committee on Tuesday and see if it meets with the desires of the committee.
Ms. Smith.
Conservative
Joy Smith Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
I just want to ask, could you distribute the routine motions, as adopted today, prior to the next meeting so we can look them over as well, just so we come prepared?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
No problem.
Is there any further business?
One of your motions, Ms. Smith, did you want to withdraw it?
Conservative
Joy Smith Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
No, I would like to have it stand; I did table it already. It's the one we've all agreed on, which is the one on aboriginal marriage, and I want to have it formally down as a motion. I presented it and I would like to have a vote on it as one of the things we consider. There seems to be a consensus around the table.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
The consensus is that we all agreed with those issues, so is it necessary to vote on individual items? We've pretty much wrapped up a consensus among all of us that these are the directions the committee wants to go in and that we should move forward on them as quickly as possible.
Conservative
Conservative
Joy Smith Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
We either have to deal with it or withdraw it, one or the other.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Exactly. The same would be for any of the other motions that were here. We've got a consensus as to where we're going, so the motions would be withdrawn. There's a consensus there.
We've got a lot work done in only an hour.
I say to all of you, thank you very much. I think we're going to have an exciting time on behalf of the women in Canada and I thank you for your contribution.
The meeting is adjourned.