Status of Women Committee on April 3rd, 2008

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

Madam Chair, we all understand this is a private member's bill, and as is the case in the House, it is a vote according to how each member feels. They're not whipped votes. I would think that in a committee structure we'd do the same thing; we vote as if it were a private member's bill.

The members around this table were well informed on the bill before we voted in the House. Otherwise some of us wouldn't have voted the way we did. The information is there. I think people know pretty clearly how they feel about this. So today the vote could be that everyone will vote according to their feelings toward this issue, as they did in the House.

Probably we should take it to a vote and get on with it, because it's not a major thing. It's only a message to the justice committee. The justice committee doesn't have to take it into consideration or listen to it--or act on it, for that matter.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madame Deschamps.

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

I find the comments Ms. Minna just made really persuasive. This is a private member's bill, and each of us was free to take a position on this subject based on our conscience. However, I'm not sitting on the Foreign Affairs Committee, but rather on the Committee on the Status of Women. I'm not here as a citizen; I was elected by people whom I have a duty to represent as faithfully as possible.

My colleague Nicole, from the Bloc Québécois, and I have made a number of addresses and submissions to various groups. We have also listened to them. To make a decision, I have to go beyond my conscience. I must also, of necessity, check with my peers as to what has previously been done.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madame Deschamps, Ms. Minna is requesting a vote.

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

All right, we'll vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

What I would like to do is have a vote on the amendment to the motion.

(Amendment negatived)

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

On the main motion.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

The last thing I want to say before I adjourn the committee is to ask you, please, to think about what you would like to study in May and submit it to the clerk.

The meeting is adjourned.