Status of Women Committee on Nov. 26th, 2009

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I call the meeting to order. As you see, we have committee business from 3:30 to 4. We have a notice of motion on the table that says:

That the Standing Committee on the Status of Women request that the Minister of State for the Agency of the Status of Women appear before the Committee before December 3, 2009 on the subject of the Supplementary Estimates (B) 2009-10.

So that's a motion on the table.

Ms. Neville, would you like to speak to it?

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

I would just very briefly, Madam Chair. It's self-explanatory. I think it's important that we hear from the minister and see the minister every time there are estimates tabled in the House. Our primary responsibility as members of Parliament is to hold the executive branch accountable, and I'd like to hear from the minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Good. Thank you.

Is there any discussion on this motion?

Yes, Ms. McLeod.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I certainly don't disagree with my colleague, although the supplementary estimates, of course, were tabled a number of weeks ago. What I worry about, what concerns me, is that right now, when there are two dates and the minister is very busy with a number of events, I think it's perhaps a little late in the day to be bringing this kind of motion to the table regarding supplementary estimates.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Is there any further discussion?

Yes, Ms. Hoeppner.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

I would agree with the spirit of the motion and the intent of the motion, but my concern is also the date. I'm just wondering if there's some way we can adjust that, because technically, really, there's one actual day that we're meeting between today and the date that you wanted the minister here. I think the idea is good; it's just the dates that I'm concerned about. I'm wondering if Ms. Neville might have some flexibility on that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Just for the information of the committee, the estimates must be reported back on December 7 at the latest, so we have between now and December 7 to get the minister to explain the estimates to this committee and to be accountable for that.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

When were the estimates tabled?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

They were tabled the 4th of November.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

So this might just be an opportunity missed, unfortunately.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Now we'll hear from Ms. Neville and then Ms. Mathyssen.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We asked the clerk some days before that if the minister could come. You were absent, Madam Chair. You were not well. I expressed an indication informally that I thought it was important that the minister be here for the estimates. I was told that we had to have a formal motion. I would have tabled it 10 days ago, and probably should have, but I have to say that there is nothing more important than how dollars are spent and how a department is managed. I appreciate that the minister is busy, but I think it's incumbent upon her to clear an hour for us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I would like to suggest, however, that the clerk does not have the authority to request a minister of the crown--

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

I understand that.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Could I just ask a question? If I'm understanding you correctly, Ms. Neville, you were aware 10 days prior that if you wanted the minister to come--

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

I should have put a motion in. I thought we could just put a general request in. The chair was away and it fell between the cracks.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Okay. I was concerned that--

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Sorry, Ms. Hoeppner, you have spoken. If you wish to speak again, put your name down.

Ms. Mathyssen.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Just to remind the committee, quite some time ago, I requested that the minister be asked to attend committee so that we could discuss the gender budget issues that had come up. It was a considerable time ago, and I know the invitation has been extended. It would seem to me that given the fact that the minister did indicate she'd be happy to come at any time we wanted--I recall her saying she was very pleased to be at our committee--I think she could quite easily come to discuss gender budget analysis with us and to include in that a discussion of the supplementary estimates. Again, I come back to the fact that the request was made quite some time ago, and I think it would be a good thing to see the minister as soon as possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Ms. Wong.

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond, BC]

I would say that we probably should add a friendly amendment, such as “subject to her availability”, because this is just too short of a notice, especially if you want her to give us an explanation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Ms. Neville, you'll have to respond to the request for a friendly amendment. I cannot respond to that.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

The only friendly amendment I will accept is “prior to December 7”. I think it's incumbent upon the minister to find an hour to come before the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

The friendly amendment has been rejected.

Ms. Demers.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Madam Chair, I need some information. When I started out, I sat on the Standing Committee on Health, and it was studying supplementary estimates in the House.

Couldn't we proceed in that manner? Is it only the Standing Committee on Health that can do that?