Evidence of meeting #2 for Status of Women in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was motions.
A recording is available from Parliament.
The Clerk
The motion by Madame Demers for the BlackBerries could almost be a routine motion.
Liberal
Maria Minna Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
On a point of order, Madam Chair, at the last meeting we had, we were going to be discussing the committee's business. It seems that we now have a whole pile of motions from various sources. We're discussing future business through motions rather than by discussing items. I find this rather unfortunate. Are we not going back—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Ms. Minna, if you'd give me some opportunity, I'd like to finish Ms. Demers' motion only, and then I'll go through the business and show the committee. So you've jumped the gun on it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
I wanted to go through the business that has been given out to every committee member to just see how we match. We'll have to now choose what it is that we would like to proceed with.
So can we take Ms. Demers' motion, which is really quite simple? It says, “That the Standing Committee on the Status of Women request all members of the committee not to use their BlackBerries while witnesses are being introduced, out of respect for the witnesses.”
Yes, Mr. Stanton.
Conservative
Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON
I just have a question, through you, Madam Chair, to Madame Demers.
Is it only when they're being introduced? I thought, perhaps, that you had meant when they're giving testimony, during their presentations.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
That is correct, Mr. Stanton. That is actually what the French version states, there must be a mistake in the translation. I was referring to when our witnesses are giving their testimony. I would prefer us not to use our BlackBerry during that time. It is up to each individual member to decide whether he wants to have his BlackBerry on or off before the witnesses arrive or after they have gone.
Conservative
Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON
So, in the English text, then, Madame, it should read, “while witnesses are giving testimony or making presentations”?
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Not only during their presentation, but while we are questioning them as well. If it were only during their presentation—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Actually the French one does say during the presentation of their testimony.
Conservative
Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON
We haven't changed much--the testimony--because the presentation could be meant as just the first ten minutes, but actually it should be—
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Now, the research analyst had sent out the suggestion for future business, which was what we had discussed in June 2007. Then we received a lot of motions. What I'd like to do is, if we look at the logic of the committee, there are supplementary estimates and departmental performance reports, and we also presented reports in terms of trafficking, economic security, and the funding changes to the status of women program. The government has responded to it. So if we look at the moneys and their responses, that would be a natural fit for what we could do if we so wished.
The proposals that we have received from Ms. Davidson, Ms. Demers, and Ms. Mathyssen are basically taking it from here and giving their priority...the proposed studies. This is really in alphabetical order.
Can we at least agree that the first things we can look at, because the supplementary estimates were tabled on October 30, 2007, is to see where Status of Women Canada is going and bring in the new executive director? I think the new executive director is not available until December.
The Clerk
I've asked for the coordinator or some of her staff to come, but she seems to want to come with the staff.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Ms. Davidson, I will give you the floor in one second.
I think every one of you has received this blue report, and everybody has had a chance to look at it and see where we're going. I think we could have a performance report and an update on where the status of women program is from the horse's mouth.
Yes, Ms. Davidson.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I just wanted to ask a question; I didn't want to speak to the motion that I had put forward at this point. Apparently there were some calls made by the clerk to the department, the Status of Women department, and to different ministries, different minister's offices, to see if they would appear. Was that on your behalf that these calls were made? When I was questioned about it, it was stated that it was on behalf of the committee, but we definitely, as a committee, had not discussed anything about this yet. Would that have been on your behalf, Madam Chair?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Let me explain. After last week's meeting we were discussing what business we could get into. Since the trafficking report and the economic security report, there have been responses by the government, and it was HRDSC and the Department of Justice, etc. The clerk asked if, in preparation, we could at least find out if anybody would be available Wednesday or next Monday, etc., and would I be willing to put my name to it, and I said yes, I would.
I think that as a committee we're here to do work. We were just in preparation for whatever could happen; otherwise we would have no witnesses and no business for the next two weeks.
