Status of Women Committee on Nov. 19th, 2007

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

I was going to add one other thing. I get the sense from this that it's not as though we have to have one of these after each other. This is work that we can put in front of us between now.... I mean, yes, we need to get to it, but it's not as though we have to do this before we can get on with something else.

We can get underway with a study or some other work. Then, when that minister's available, we'll pick a time slot to do that work and then move on with our study. It's not as though we need to hear them in front of any other business of the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madame Boucher.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

I would like to address the matter of parliamentary secretaries. I myself am a parliamentary secretary, and I believe my role is basically to help and support the Minister, and not to make decisions. I am there to listen.

In our discussions, I believe the Minister should come and explain things. Despite their good faith, parliamentary secretaries do not necessarily have the necessary authority. It is really the Minister who makes all final decisions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madame Demers.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I would like to begin by apologizing to Ms. Mathyssen. The fact remains that three people were allowed to speak before you recognized me again. But I won't hold that against you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Was I not paying attention, or what?

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

You were too busy.

Madam Chair, I simply wanted to talk about the motions we tabled concerning our various choices. I believe there was a misunderstanding and people were a bit panicked last week when they saw the pile of motions that had been presented. We had agreed to present motions for everything, which goes against our usual way of making decisions. I think that is why we all presented motions to prioritize the issues we would like to study this year. I must admit that I have never made a motion to that effect. We have never operated that way.

That being said, I agree: clearly I want to hear from people in a position of responsibility. Since deputy ministers are accountable to their ministers, they may be in a better position to answer our questions than the parliamentary secretaries. As Ms. Boucher said, despite their good faith, parliamentary secretaries are not necessarily the ones who make decisions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

I have been reading those motions again, and I think we are all focused on the....

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

As far as the motions which have been presented are concerned, let's not forget that there are new members on this committee, people who were not here last year. We wanted to study issues we felt were important. I am new on the committee. Occasionally I replaced someone, but there are subjects which are dear to my heart and which I would like us to study. I would not want us to forget about them. As a new member, I just want to make sure that the issues set out in our motions were important to everyone. After all, we are all working with the same objective in mind, namely the welfare of women.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

If we look at the proposed studies by members in the previous session in alphabetical order....

[The Clerk]

I just want to make sure. You're all talking and I never have a real motion or anything to go by.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

I think the consensus, as I heard it, was that we invite the various ministers, but it should not detract us from moving forward. Whenever they are available we would like to have ministers. Parliamentary secretaries do not speak for the government. It is a political response we want. Because it's a political response, we want ministers responsible for the different areas. That's why we would like to have the ministers.

Parliamentary secretaries will do for the time being, Madam Boucher, no insult to you.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

I so move.

[An honourable member]

What do you move?

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

What you said. There is no motion to that effect. We need concrete proposals.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Then let us all move our motions, since they are all good ones.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Danielle would like to read what she thinks is a motion. That way we know what we are--

[The Clerk]

So that's your consensus?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Yes.

[The Clerk]

That the committee invite the minister responsible for the government responses to the 12th, 18th, and 21st reports of the committee.

It's the minister responsible. In one case it's the Minister of Justice. In another case it's the Minister of Immigration. In the other case it's Madame Verner.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

The response on turning outwards is both the Minister of Justice, immigration, and safety.... On improving the economic security--

[The Clerk]

It's been signed only by the Minister of Justice.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

That's true, but I heard Minister Finley today, when there was a refugee case, talk about trafficking and how important it is for security purposes to ensure that we get the minister's take on what it is and what will happen.

Yes, Ms. Davidson.

[Patricia Davidson, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Madam Chair, I just think it's vitally important that we get all of the ministers who are involved, because I think we saw when we did this study that it's not a silo. There is just so much overlapping and....

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

It's all HRSD's--whatever it is.