The government's response to the second report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women on gender-based analysis reads as follows:
Consultation by Status of Women Canada to engage civil society on the equality goals for priority action for the future strategy on gender equality is being planned for fall 2005.
May we ask Status of Women Canada if that consultation took place?
The report reads a little further on, again with regard to gender-based analysis:
The onus is on the lead department to ensure this assessment is full and complete.
Do the departments have implementation plans? Has a follow-up been done?
Madam Chair, I was elected to the House of Commons in 2000 and I have been responsible for the status of women since that time. Status of Women Canada has told us every year since 2000 that there will be an implementation plan.
The creation of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women has given rise to expectations that, in turn, have resulted in responses from Status of Women Canada. Some $20 million is allocated to this agency. It is our responsibility as a committee to ensure that this money is well spent and in accordance with the requests of the parliamentarians who sat on this committee.
I can, of course, read a report in 20 minutes but that is not enough time to allow everyone to speak. If we had an hour, everybody would be able to speak. Canadian women are depending on us. Consequently, I move that we have at least one hour to consider each report.
Furthermore, does this government—and Ms. Smith will be able to tell us the answer—intend to insist that Status of Women Canada deliver?