Status of Women Committee on Oct. 31st, 2006

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

We had originally planned on this calendar that we were going to attempt to put a report in by mid-December. Do we still want to do that or do we want to postpone our deadline to be able to comment on some of the other avenues? Either we do from now until December on the sexual exploitation area...and do you want to start in February with dealing with the broader issue of the agriculture, and so on? Our analysts need to make a comment here.

The other thing is that we have another list of witnesses that people have submitted. If we have to add them, we'll have a lot of difficulty trying to get a report out by mid-December, to be tabled in the House by mid-December. The issue is so important that we want to make sure that we're doing it appropriately as well. I think our deadlines were great and ambitious, but I'm not sure we're going to be able to meet them and do the report justice.

Ms. Smith, Ms. Mourani.

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

Could I suggest two reports? Perhaps we could just do one, focus the way we want to, and get one report completed--on sexual exploitation--and in the House by Christmas. Then in terms of what Ms. Mathyssen and Ms. Mourani were saying about industry and about some of the horrendous things in human trafficking, we could do solely that right up to spring. We could get a second report in on that as well.

I think that way we would do justice to two things, and do them properly then.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Ms. Mourani.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Madam Chair, I agree with Ms. Smith. As scheduled, the committee should table a draft report on human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and define its guidelines in December, at the same time as the report by the Subcommittee on solicitation laws.

Both the subcommittee and our main committee will produce reports. As members of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, and giving the fact that women are the primary victims of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, we had better have an opinion on the issue.

In my view, the report should be tabled in December. As Ms. Mathyssen said, it would then very important to look at the other facet of human trafficking, by conducting a study and hearing witnesses, so that we can table a second report. I fully agree that we are dealing with two completely different issues.

Furthermore, regarding the new list, I am sorry, Madam Chair, but a first list with the names of our witnesses was already established, and it was just fine with me. If we keep on adding to that list we will never finish and will continue to study the issue for another ten years. Let us keep to the list that was established. I have no difficulty or problem with adding one or two witnesses. But the list is already drawn up, and that is that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

That's fine. Good.

In December we could file an interim report. That is one thing we could do.

We're shortly going to be moving to room 371 so that everybody, including our witnesses, will have some room to breathe.

Mr. Stanton.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

I'd like to add to Madame Mourani's point. If we are pressed for time between now and December, and if some of the witnesses who are scheduled through November are specifically on the economics side of the equation and outside the envelope of sexual exploitation, then I don't think it's inconceivable for us to suggest that they get moved.

If I may, Madam Chair, in a rather unrelated piece of business, I want to let the committee know that we will be seeking consent to attach a dissenting opinion to the motion by Ms. Minna, when that comes up again.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Ms. Minna.

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Madam Chair, I would like to comment on the discussion of future work.

We decided that we would do human trafficking before Christmas. Obviously that's what we should be doing. To that extent, some of the organizations I put forward as possible witnesses.....

You may remember that Mr. Poulin, I think it was, said there wasn't a great deal of research in Canada. That's actually not true. I've been calling women's organizations across Canada for the last couple of weeks. Among the organizations that I have put forward, there's Stella; Analee Lepp has a complete picture of Canada, and there's been a lot of research; and Maggie's is on the ground in Toronto. These are organizations that have actually done research or are on the ground--in British Columbia, in Toronto--in that specific field. There's a lot of information within Canada. It's current, and these four or five will give us a tremendous, good picture. I think it would be worthwhile to take advantage of that.

Otherwise, we're listening only to the RCMP, to the police. And that's fine, no question, but you also need to hear about the groups on the ground that are doing research. That's important.

A more important issue is that we discussed last time that we would do this and then do economic security of women after Christmas. What happens to women, it seems to me--Madame Mourani is right, as is Ms. Mathyssen--is that when it comes to manufacturing, to agriculture, to domestic work, it's also part and parcel of the economic state of women. You can't separate the two--why women are in those situations, why they end up in those situations.

So I think after Christmas we really ought to revisit and study the economic security of women. That study would include all of those elements, because I can tell you, that's why they're in.... Why are immigrant women being exploited, working in certain factories or at home?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

For the November 7 meeting, we have two people, one who is confirmed and one is not, from the Domestic Worker's Association and from a similar association in Quebec. Both of those are on the broader issue, so we will not have them come at this particular section; we'll have them come later on in the spring.That will free up some time, because we do have some additional witnesses who have been suggested, specific to this. If I have the permission of the committee, we'll stay very specific to this issue that we're going to try to deal with.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Madam Chair, could we go to that question on consent and for the minority opinion? I understand we have to have the consent of the committee to—

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

Ask for a dissenting—

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Mr. Stanton has moved that he wanted to present a dissenting opinion to Ms. Minna's motion, is that right?

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Correct. I think it was of October 19, if memory serves.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Yes, okay. Do we deal with that at the next meeting?

[A voice]

The next meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Put it on the floor. Let's deal with it.

Ms. Stronach is here? Can we take a vote on the request from the government to present a dissenting opinion to Ms. Minna's motion?

They don't need to vote? Okay, we have to hold that as—

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Do we have consensus, Madam Chair?

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

All we need is consensus.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

It's your right to do that.

Ms. Mourani, to Mr. Stanton's comments specifically.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Madam Chair, before starting to talk about a dissenting report, I would like us to finalize the list.

I would also like to know how come Mr. Gauthier, of the Montreal Police Force, has not yet appeared before the committee. I have requested this a number of times. Does he not want to appear before us?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Speak to it quickly, please.

[The Clerk]

Ms. Mourani, the reason why it does not appear on the schedule is because I have not yet been able to set a date when a representative of the Montreal Police Force could appear before the committee.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

But Mr. Gauthier—

[The Clerk]

I contacted Mr. Gauthier and was told that he would not be the one to appear before the committee on this issue. The Montreal Police Force would send another representative. As soon as I receive confirmation of the date, I will clearly indicate it in the schedule.

If you have other questions regarding witnesses, feel free to call me directly at my office.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

All right.

We're going to suspend for five minutes to relocate to Room 371. Would everybody please bring your documents? Let us move as quickly as possible, as we have witnesses who are waiting for us. Thank you.

We are suspended.