Status of Women Committee on May 26th, 2010

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

Yes, I have a point of order.

First of all, I was not instructed. I have been a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women for three years. I have always tried to be upfront with you—that's what I'm like, in general. I was not instructed by anyone. Canada has been present in Afghanistan for years, and that presence did not begin under my government, but under the Liberal rule. The only thing that I wanted to emphasize is all that Canada has accomplished so far. I am fully capable of making my own decisions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Madame Deschamps.

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

To wrap up my questions and comments, I would like to know, given the complexity of this motion, if we could refer it to the committee that actually has a mandate to deal with any Afghan issues. There is in fact a special committee on Afghanistan.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Madame Boucher, we are not having a debate across the floor. This is a committee. I have said that I would entertain no further discussion after Madame Deschamps. I will call the question on this ow.

Before I do that, I want to let everyone know that we're completely booked up. In the week of May 31, we're travelling on violence against aboriginal women. The week of June 7, we're traveling on violence against women. On June 14 and June 16, we'll study the draft report on maternal and child health. We've completed our study on it. On June 21, we will have a study on the draft report of women in non-traditional occupations, which we have not yet accepted, whereas we did a great deal of work on that. Then the House rises. We are planning to finish our trip of travel on violence against women very early in the summer, as this committee had decided before.

That's to let everyone know that this is the status of work for this committee. The work has been decided up until the House rises.

Then, we have had a study--this is now a year and a half old for this committee--on the effects of new technologies on women and girls; a study on media coverage of women and women's issues; a study on international models of early childhood education; women and Canada's foreign policy, including the impact of changes in language in the Department of Foreign Affairs; shared parenting custody and access; and lost Canadians.

We have a ranking of future business that had already been done by this committee, so I understand that the issue for everyone is going to be when this is going to happen. We've now heard from everyone. Based on that information, I will now call the vote.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

What will we do about the amendments?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Is there an official amendment from someone?

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

We have all put forward amendments to be made to the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Ms. Neville, would you like to put in an amendment?

She didn't suggest she had an amendment.

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

I'm going to assume that implicit in the discussion today is that all committee members will agree that the witness list will go beyond officials and groups on the ground and could include others who have an interest. Other than Sally Armstrong, I don't have anybody else in mind.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

And we've heard from Ms. Mathyssen that we should travel to Afghanistan, so that is also....

Do you want those to be formal amendments or--

[An hon. member]

Friendly?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Well, I don't know if Ms. Boucher will accept friendly amendments.

Will you accept a friendly amendment with regard to broadening the number of witnesses?

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

With respect to the witness list, will all the members of all the parties have the right to propose...

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

That is how it has always been done, Madame Boucher.

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

I just wanted to make sure because in every committee, strange things sometimes happen. Regardless, I have no objection.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

May I add this as a point of information? It has never been a problem in this committee. Everyone has been asked to give us lists. When we have a long list, we ask everyone to pick their top five so that we always ensure there will be a clear sense of things done. That's with regard to broadening the list.

With regard to travel, how do you feel about that, Ms. Boucher?

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

I was speaking to...

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

[Inaudible--Editor]...don't have to travel, because if they say no to travel, then you've just lost the ability to study--

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Mr. Calandra, do you wish to speak to an issue?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

No, no--

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Because I was speaking to Madame Boucher.

Ms. Boucher, with regard to your.... There was a friendly amendment suggested by Ms. Mathyssen that we travel to Afghanistan.

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

I am open to this idea, but our safety has to be ensured, as Ms. Deschamps was saying. We have to be absolutely certain that all precautions are taken to ensure the committee's safety if it travels. That is of utmost importance. If we propose an amendment, we have to ensure that it includes provisions on safety because, as we know, this is a dangerous region.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Madame Boucher, when committees travel, whether they travel in Canada or abroad, the foreign affairs department is responsible to Parliament; it is not just responsible to the government. It's an institution of Parliament and it will ensure that all who travel under a parliamentary banner are safe. Departments serve Parliament, not merely the government. That, you should know.

So, then, you have accepted that as an amendment, and I'm going to call the vote here quickly. We have the question, with two additions, one that the witnesses

Yes, Ms. Wong? I have said that I would not discuss this any further.

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond, BC]

I have just one question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Be brief, please, Ms. Wong.