Evidence of meeting #3 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 funding.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
No, thank you.
I want to clarify for Ms. Mathyssen that according to the committee rule, based on the number of members in a political party within the House, the New Democratic Party is entitled to one person. Obviously, according to the rules, any member of Parliament can come to a meeting to sit as an observer. If they wish to participate, they must do so on the agreement of the members of the committee.
The members of the committee did not agree to that.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
It is my understanding, however, that the whips have an agreement that an additional New Democrat can sit on a committee. I sit on the public safety committee. I don't have voting rights, but I can sit on the committee and ask questions. It is my understanding that agreement is in place.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
As chair of this committee, I know of no such agreement being in place. The whip does not have the ability to make that agreement. It has to be agreed to by the committee, which is the author of its own decision-making.
The committee said they did not agree to this particular behaviour. I'm sorry.
NDP