Status of Women Committee on April 2nd, 2009

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Yes, I realize that, but it would have to be because two people from this committee have already left. We'll have to discuss this no matter what we do. It means we're going to stay overtime to do that. I need your sense of what you want to do.

Given that today is Thursday and tomorrow is Friday...many people are leaving. I don't know if we can put this forward in the House tomorrow, and because of the two weeks off we could lose all this impetus if we choose to do something about it. We'll all be gone, so there won't be that impetus. I'm just making some suggestions. Obviously Madame Boucher is free to do what she wishes, but before Madame Boucher speaks, I would like to get the sense from everyone if they wish to stay and discuss this as an emergency motion. Is there assent to that?

No one is in agreement.

Madame Boucher.

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

I have another idea. I will put the motion down on paper and send it to you before 5 p.m., so that we can write a letter tomorrow on behalf of the committee to ensure that these things—

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

We do not need a motion for that.

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

So I will write a letter, I will send it to you, and we will sign it and forward it to the appropriate people, so that this never happens again, out of respect for women.

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

Not on behalf of the committee.

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

That is not possible.

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

No.

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

No.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I think we need to discuss the best options to deal with this issue. I don't think we have committee agreement that we need to send a letter. I don't think we have committee agreement. We're not discussing it because everyone wants to leave. What are we going to do with this issue?

Ms. Mathyssen.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Since this pertains to something we'll be looking at later, perhaps Madame Boucher could bring the article to the committee when we look at the way women are represented in the media and ads.

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

That is fine.

Good idea.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Next week we're going to have to decide what we do next. In any case, on April 21, when we come back, one of the first things we're going to have to deal with is a report. I would like to suggest that during the two weeks off Ms. Morgan will pull together the elements of a draft report, and we can receive that on the 21st. Because you will only get it on the 21st, we won't be prepared to discuss it, and I thought we could use the 21st to have the discussion on the report of the Status of Women departmental performance review. We could do that on the 21st and we could deal with Madame Boucher's issue and Madame Demers' issue. We have a full meeting on the 21st. You will all receive the report, and then we can discuss the report on the Thursday at the following meeting.

Is everyone in agreement with that?

[Some hon members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I believe Ms. Boucher's point is so very important and it deserves full discussion and a really effective method of dealing with it, as opposed to just sending out a letter that no one will pay attention to, etc.

Go ahead, Nicole.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

I understand, Madam Chair, but I think it is really unfortunate that no one wants to discuss the issue at this time. It is in the news right now, but it will no longer be news in two weeks or a month's time.

We could have taken advantage of the fact that, for once, we all share the same view regarding the fact that such things simply should not be said. We were all shocked. Personally, I was very shocked by this advertisement.

During parliamentary breaks, the media does not cover any issues related to Parliament. So, as woman and parliamentarians, we could have used the media to communicate our position on this advertisement, which is not being well received, but will continue to be broadcast this week and next.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I understand, but I think most people are suggesting that they may not have the time. They may have other things to do, and I think this deserves good discussion, because we are all upset with it.

Go ahead, Ms. McLeod.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Madam Chair, I think there are two things.

One, I really appreciated your comment that perhaps there could be a press conference with an all-party denunciation, and we could do that before the break.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Those are options.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Then it becomes a critical element of our study. We can take a more thoughtful approach, but I think as Ms. Demers mentioned, we lose the timeliness. I like your idea, so perhaps we could do both.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

When would you suggest we do the press conference? Would it be when we get back?

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

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

If we're not here, none of the national media will give it the full attention it deserves, because nobody will be in the House for the next two weeks. When we get back, the first thing we will deal with is Madame Boucher's motion of options that we have. We can deal with it, and then, depending on what we decide, we can deal with it on that day.

[An hon. member]

Is anyone here tomorrow?

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

Tomorrow?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Most people are not here tomorrow either.