Evidence of meeting #23 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 cuts.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
I call the meeting to order.
The first business of the committee is the motion from Madame Demers. We wanted to finish that. We're going to give ourselves 20 minutes.
It's a simple motion. We can have discussions until doomsday if we want, but we have witnesses here. If we can be succinct and brief with our comments and concerns, we'll be fine.
Go ahead, Madame Boucher.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
If we are going to be dealing with this motion, I do hope you will give us an opportunity to speak to it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
I thought we did. I had let the committee clerk know that there would be 20 minutes of discussions and that we would start off, because we have witnesses.
Madame Boucher, since you've expressed concern, would you like to speak?
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Stanton had started to speak on it the last time. He had something to say.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Okay, we'll have Mr. Stanton.
Have you changed the motion a little, or amended it?
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Madam Chair, I am expecting a friendly amendment, which I will very likely accept.
Conservative
Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON
There are two things.
I wonder if Madame Demers might consider, first, that perhaps all members of the standing committee might be considered and not just the women members. In that way, we would be consistent and inclusive. Then I wonder if she might consider changing the word “denounce” perhaps to “consider the consequences of Bill C-484” and the....
Conservative
Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON
It would be “to consider the consequences that Bill C-484 might have on the women of Quebec and Canada”.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Madam Chair, I am in agreement with some of the points made by our colleague. I fully understand why he is asking for these changes and I agree with his basic proposition. I would therefore suggest that we try the following wording:
That all members of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women request the support of the members of their respective caucuses to reconsider Bill C-484 and the dramatic consequences which it could have on the women of Quebec and Canada.
I think we can agree on that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
She has made it quite softer. It is to “reconsider” Bill C-484, instead of referring to consequences, etc.
Can we reread it, Madame Demers?
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
That all members of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women request the support of the members of their respective caucuses to reconsider Bill C-484 and the dramatic consequences which it could have on the women of Quebec and Canada.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Okay.
You've taken out.... It's to request the support “of their caucus” instead of “of the women”, right?
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Okay.
Can I read what I have in English for you? It reads as follows:
That all members of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women request the support of their respective caucus to reconsider the Bill C-484 and the dramatic consequences which it could have on the women of Quebec and Canada.
Is there any more discussion?
Go ahead, Madame Boucher.
Conservative
Conservative
Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair. I think the amendment certainly speaks to the fact that these are decisions individual members of Parliament will take into consideration. I think it expresses a certain point of view. It might not always be shared by other members of Parliament, but it compels them to take a closer look, and I think it's respectful.
