Status of Women Committee on Nov. 9th, 2006

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

Madam Chair, I don't believe it is too late. I believe that we're working on two different issues. We've gone off the human trafficking--not gone off it because we're having extra meetings, but we've agreed to those two extra meetings, and then have the GBA, as you suggested, in February. It makes sense because we're not so compressed for time. We don't lose a thing. We just do a better job of it. That's the logical way to do it. Our side of the House would support that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Is everybody in agreement? We're okay with that?

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

No, we're not. I don't agree with putting GBA off to February. It's far too long.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

There's just not enough time. There are only four weeks when we come back. We want to do justice to everything we're doing. There's no sense starting and having one meeting on one thing, then moving on to GBA. If we had the GBA meeting the very first Wednesday--

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

It's only one meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

It's an extra meeting. If we had the GBA meeting the first Wednesday when we come back after the break, this way we're able to complete this work and we're able to focus on that when we come back. The GBA meeting I'm suggesting we would do the first Wednesday when we come back in February.

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

Right.

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

We'll never get to it.

I would suggest the 28th. I think Madam Mourani would agree.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

I can suggest November 28, but if we are not unanimous, we are not left with much choice.

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

No, we do have a choice.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

There is a proposal, though. She's suggested November 28 for the GBA.

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

There was a motion that we do this.

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

No, we can't do that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

If they can't do that, it's not an agreement.

We will do the GBA meeting in February. We will have these ones in December--

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

All I can say, Madam Chair, is that there was a motion passed that we deal with this issue early.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

I realize that. But there is a difficulty with the amount of time and the amount of work we have.

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

I think it's unacceptable. The GBA is lost.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

That's the way we're going.

The GBA meeting we will have the first Wednesday when we come back after the Christmas break.

December 6 and 13. Are there any other suggestions from anybody as to the witness list for these two meetings?

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Mrs. Smith had one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Give us an e-mail on any other witnesses. I suggest that if we call a deadline on submissions for the cuts issue by--

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

Could we have it maybe the end of break week, just so we have a chance? We only have one day left. So if we have it by next week, Wednesday or Thursday, to the clerk...?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Is the committee comfortable? The deadline for submissions for our issues on the cuts to the Status of Women, if there are any additional ones, would be next Tuesday by 5.

Ms. Mathyssen.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

I submitted a list and there was a slight error. I wanted the Canadian Labour Congress. I just wanted to make that clear.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

All right. It is on the list.

Ms. Mourani.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Would it be possible, Madam Chair, for the clerk to send this information to all the groups on the list, meaning to have her inform them of the deadline for tabling their briefs? Would it be possible to do this?