Evidence of meeting #20 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 amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Joy Smith Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
To the amendment, Madam Chair, can we vote on the motion without that amendment? I still say we want to vote and that all women are equal in Canada, but putting in “reinstate equality” infers that we're just saying that equality isn't there. We're not saying that.
I have submitted a motion on status of women, but the amendment, in a back-door way, is trying to say something different. This is not my motion anymore. So I would ask that, because I believe all women are equal. We have equality in status of women, so we don't need to reinstate equality. We need to put down the—
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I would again like to state that this amendment is out of order. It is contrary to the main motion, and it is up to you to rule. You can call on the clerk to read the rules again about what an amendment can do. An amendment cannot be contrary to the main motion, so I would ask that you rule on it, because it definitely is contrary to it.
Thank you.
Liberal
Roger Valley Liberal Kenora, ON
I don't agree with the honourable member across the way. This is adding to the motion. It's not taking away anything, and it doesn't change the basic concept of the main motion. This amendment should be allowed to stand.
Liberal
Maria Minna Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
Madam Chair, I don't see how this amendment is contrary to the main motion. We're not changing the fact that women have equality in the Charter of Rights. All we're doing is highlighting the fact that, in order to actualize or to make those rights a reality in the everyday life of women, Status of Women Canada needs to have the equality aspect spelled out as a mandate. Otherwise, if its primary mandate is not to ensure that the equality of women is in fact actualized, then it won't happen.
We're not saying no to the equality of rights in the charter. We're saying the mandate of the department needs to ensure that those equality rights are in fact implemented through the same sort of system, except that we've added a couple of things to the list that the government has.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
I'd like to make a suggestion. Is it possible that we could hold down this motion until our next meeting and come back with it exactly spelled out? I want to make sure it is not changing it.
In fairness to all of us, and because we're trying to get some work done this morning, if Ms. Smith would agree—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
—and Ms. Stronach would agree to postpone voting on or dealing with this—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
—Ms. Stronach can put her amendments very clearly and make sure everybody has them in advance at Thursday's meeting, so that we're looking at it more clearly.
Ms. Mourani.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Madam Chair, I would like to amend the amendment. Given that my colleague Ms. Smith says that we are distorting the meaning, we would like to add a clarification that does not distort the meaning. The amendment reads as follows: “Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), that the Standing Committee on the—”
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
I'm sorry, but you can't propose another amendment until we've dealt with this amendment.
Liberal
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), that the Standing Committee on the Status of Women recognize that all women are equal in Canada under the Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, in fact, inequalities remain and it is essential that the government reinstate equality as one of its primary goals.
I did not fully understand Ms. Stronach's amendment, because once again, the translation was not appropriate.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
No. I am referring to my colleague's last phrase.
[...] strive to address the barriers that would prevent the full participation of women in Canadian society, so the economic, social and cultural situation is improved [...]
That is exactly the same thing as what Ms. Stronach moved, except that I ended the sentence after the word “freedoms” and added a sentence. That is all.
Bloc
