Thank you, Madam Chair.
I hope to take the minister up on her offer to come here whenever we require and have questions or concerns.
My concern arises from two things. First is the appearance of the Auditor General at the public accounts committee and the information she gave that committee. I must say it was very much like the information she provided to this committee on concerns about deficiencies when it comes to the application of gender-based analysis.
I asked the minister this question because I think it's absolutely essential that there be consistent and effective GBA. Concerns were expressed by the Auditor General about having no written proof. There were verbal submissions or explanations back and forth, but nothing concrete that she could utilize in her determinations.
The minister did not answer my question. In fact she said:
Treasury Board submissions in 2007, also now under the leadership of this government, required evidence of gender-based analysis. In 2008 we put a requirement in place that all memoranda of the cabinet would require evidence of gender-based analysis.
I think use of the word “evidence” makes me very uneasy, because it's not concrete. Evidence is not proof. Evidence is not a sense of confidence that I think we should have in the process going on. I would like her to clarify what she means by evidence of GBA, and explain how reliable the GBA is in terms of the various departments.