Evidence of meeting #26 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 aboriginal.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
On a point of order, Madam Chair, the motion was debated. Everybody was given an opportunity. The motion was defeated. We cannot continue to debate the same motion.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
This has nothing to do with the motion. It is about the chair's ruling.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Excuse me, please.
My reason for voting against the motion was that it said a blanket “all” documents. There are documents that committees can have access to, but not all. The word “all” is what has gotten this motion off the track. You know, it's all that are available to this committee or that should be available to this committee; other than that, you cannot implement this. This is not implementable, because there are very secret documents in cabinet that are not available to committee, and we know that. There are some that are. There's a list of ones that are, but not every single one is.
So by using the word “all”, you meant every single document. Now, we've already finished and we can't discuss this any further.
If you wish to bring something further, Monsieur Desnoyers, you can bring it in at the next meeting. That would be fine.
Okay, now--
Bloc
Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Madam Chair, we will rephrase and resubmit the motion, because it is important for the committee to have access to these documents. We will show you the documents that prove MPs are entitled to see the documents, whatever they may be, that are held back by departments. That way, you will be able to make relevant decisions.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I will entertain that when you bring it back, Mr. Desnoyers.
Another motion, by Madam Demers, says:
That the Standing Committee on the Status of Women attend the roundtable, to be held at 11:45 a.m. on June 11, 2009, in Room 256-S Centre Block, with Canadian-Congolese women, to hear about the disastrous effects of the war in the DRC on their daily lives.
Mrs. Boucher.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
I am not opposed to an all-party roundtable, but I would like the wording to be amended slightly to make participation optional. Everyone has a very busy schedule. Not everyone will be able to free up some time on Thursday.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Would you like to propose the amendment, then?
In the meantime, does anyone want to discuss this while we're waiting for the amendment?
Anita.
Liberal
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
I just wanted to note, Madam Chair, that the round table is in fact during the course of this committee, so I don't see that as an issue.
My only concern, Madam Chair, is that I am anxious that we hear from the departments, and if possible the ministers, on their response to the 2010 Olympics and the matter of human trafficking.
When will that be?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I have not heard from the ministers. It has now been a month since we wrote to the ministers. We wrote to the ministers, and we have not had a response from the ministers per se, and it is now a month.
This committee can demand that department officials attend the committee, but when we have not even had an acknowledgement from the ministers of the letter, and it has now been four weeks....
I re-sent a letter at your request two meetings ago. If you wish, I will also word that strongly. It may very well be that if you're going to have to discuss this issue, you will need to have ministers attend. I can't tell you when or if they are or whatever.
Liberal
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
What I'm hearing is that nothing is scheduled right now on the issue of trafficking.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Danielle Bélisle
No, we have five witnesses—
Liberal
The Clerk
We rewrote to the ministers, and in our letters we said either ministers or officials. So now what we have is five officials who are confirmed to come Thursday morning to discuss the 2010 Olympic Games, as per the notice that has been sent.
Liberal
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
There is a conflict.
Madam Demers, there is a conflict with your motion, because we will be having officials appearing on that same day and at that same time on the trafficking issue. Would you like to remove your motion?
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Madam Chair, even though I'm not very happy about this, I will defer to the committee's wishes.
Perhaps we could request a copy of the report of the roundtable of Canadian-Congolese women. We could submit the request to Senator Mobina Jaffer, who is hosting this event. These women suffered atrocities and continue to be victimized even today. We need to be aware of what is happening in that country.