Evidence of meeting #12 for Status of Women in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was benefit.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Not if we're trying to deal with this motion, which has come back and back again. We need to deal with this motion; we can't keep bringing it back.
May I make a suggestion with regard to your amendment?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
The motion as it stands is “That the Standing Committee on the Status of Women hold four extra meetings”, and Ms. Hoeppner would replace the words “four extra meetings” with “one meeting to examine the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act and invite departmental officials.”
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
“Treasury Board officials”, then, and everything else is removed—the Public Sector Labour Relations Board, the Public Service Alliance, etc.
Let us vote on the amendment. Those in favour of the amendment? Those opposed?
Well, I guess the chair will have to vote. I will vote for the status quo; I will vote against the amendment.
(Amendment negatived)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Now, we will read the motion as it stands: “That the Standing Committee on the Status of Women...”.
Do I need to repeat it? We all know it. Can we call a vote?
Those in favour of the motion as it stands? Those opposed?
We're back to the same old thing of the chair breaking the tie. I vote in favour of the motion.
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I would like to explain why I voted as I did, because I think the chair should explain why she did what she did.
In the first instance, I voted for the status quo. In the second instance, I have sat here and heard many witnesses come and ask for a full look at this issue, so I feel that we are listening to the witnesses when this theme comes up.
We recognize, however, that Ms. Mathyssen has said this can be done at any time before June, and she does not wish to bump anything off the list that we originally agreed on. I would just like you to know what those themes are. The first one is a study of the effects that the current employment insurance programs have on the women in Canada. That's what we're just finishing. The second is a study on the effects of new technologies on women and girls. That will be three weeks. A study on increasing the participation of women in non-traditional occupations will be three weeks. A gender-based analysis of the budget, with a focus on infrastructure funding and job creation for women, will be two weeks. A study on media coverage of women and women's issues will be two weeks. A study on international models of early childhood education will be three weeks.
I don't know where that brings us to.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Well then, I'll have to let you know.
We have a motion from Madam Demers on the table now. It reads:
That the Standing Committee on the Status of Women call upon the government to condemn the excommunication, approved by the Vatican, of the nine-year-old Brazilian girl who had to undergo an abortion after being raped by her stepfather; that the government also condemn the excommunication of the little girl’s mother and of the medical team who carried out the abortion; that the Committee report this motion to the House.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Madam Chair, we have all heard about this situation in recent weeks. The story made headlines around the world. Many people have criticized the Vatican's position. The Vatican stated that even though the situation was unusual, abortion automatically meant excommunication. The Vatican did not condemn the fact that these people were excommunicated, but the fact that the events were made public. The story made headlines around the world. I find this deplorable. The life of a little nine-year-old girl is threatened, and it is implied that her life is less important than the life of the fetus she is carrying. I believe that her life is very important, and I find it unfortunate that this nine-year-old girl, her mother and the members of the medical team were excommunicated.
No matter what church officials said, the Vatican, through Monsignor Fisichella, stated that performing an abortion meant automatic excommunication. The Vatican did not feel that this automatic decision should be so widely publicized. What the Vatican condemned was the fact that Monsignor Cardoso Sobrinho talked to the press about it. That is abominable.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
It is certainly a horrendous situation that has happened here, but I'm hearing some differing opinions and some different scenarios as to what has happened. Because I have really not had enough time to look into the matter fully, I would ask that this motion be tabled so that we can get more background information, if possible, please.
I put forth a tabling motion, which I believe needs to be voted on.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
It needs no debate. Thank you.
So we will table the motion. Would you have a time? Maybe in the next meeting?
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
No, you don't usually have to vote on tabling.
Is there anyone who disagrees with the tabling of this motion?
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Madam Chair, it should not be put off indefinitely, though. We need to determine exactly when we could discuss the motion. If we could do that on Thursday during the first part of the meeting, that would be very much appreciated. Three days should give us enough time to form an opinion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I had originally asked Ms. Davidson if she had a timeline. Should we bring it back at the next meeting?
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
My motion would be to have it tabled until we got background information. I would think we should be able to have that by Thursday.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
On Thursday, we have the deputy minister and six witnesses. That should take up the whole meeting, Madam Demers. I'm sure you can get us the background information we seek.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
We can do that on Thursday, April 2.
I need to get a sense from the committee on this. We have two meetings on Thursday. One is to accommodate the extra meeting with the academics that was cancelled because of the vote. We will then have the ordinary meeting. We could deal with this before the academic round table, provided that Ms. Demers gives us the information that Ms. Davidson is seeking.
Is that okay with you, Ms. Demers?
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
That should not be a problem, Madam Chair. Once we have the information, the debate should not take long.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you. I think that's it. I would remind everyone that we'll have a full morning starting at 9 o'clock on April 2.
The meeting is adjourned.
