Evidence of meeting #3 for Status of Women in the 40th Parliament, 3rd 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
Bloc
Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
I made my suggestion to you, Madam Chair.
In light of the time that the witness will be speaking and the questions that we will have for her, cutting today's meeting short and coming back later will mean that we will lose our train of thought. It would be interesting to hear what the witness has to say as coordinator and then to proceed to ask our questions, rather than interrupt the proceedings at this time, as scheduled. Some people who have commitments at 5:30 p.m. have to leave to attend other meetings.
I consider the subject closed. You are free to go, Ms. Clément. We will expect you back here at March 29.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I have two suggestions.
Madam Clément, I need to have the committee decide first on this issue.
There are two suggestions here. One group is suggesting that we do this now and come back again at another time. The point is that Madam Clément has a presentation, so that will take up a chunk of it. We will not be able to finish one round unless it's a two-minute round, so to speak, so it wouldn't do justice to anyone.
I understand on this side you suggested we do some now and do some another day, and on this side I'm hearing people suggesting they do it all in one fell swoop on another day. So I need to get a sense of direction from this committee.
Irene?
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Yes, Madam Chair.
I think I would like to do it all at one sitting. Madam Clément has spent time preparing, and the idea was for the committee to get to know her and have the opportunity to have a dialogue. If we chop it up, I can't see that being a productive dialogue.
Bloc
Luc Desnoyers Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I agree with Ms. Mathyssen. The exercise must be a productive one.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Can we come to some agreement on this? We have some disagreement on what we do next, and as we disagree, the clock ticks. So given that Madam Clément has to make a presentation first before we even get into a round....
Sylvie?
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
I got sidetracked a bit by a telephone call I received.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but because we only have 30 minutes, you asked the witness to return for an additional half hour. Or, it was suggested that we stop now and call the witness back for an hour on March 29. Correct?
Personally, I would prefer to have the witness return for one hour on March 29, if that's possible, if it's better for her...
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I think we are getting some kind of a consensus here that most people would prefer to come back and just have Madam Clément once and not have to break up the time--come in once, do a presentation, and then we have some discussion.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
We asked to hear from this witness just once, for one hour.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
So do I get a sense this is what we will do and that we can either adjourn the meeting now...or if there is any further discussion in camera that anyone would like to make about future business?
Madam Clément, now I will turn to you and ask, are you available on the 29th of March?
Coordinator, Head of Agency, Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women Canada
I will make myself available.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you very much. That is solved.
We will meet again on March 29 to meet with Madam Clément, pursuant to Standing Orders 110 and 111, and....
Yes, Ms. Simson.
Liberal
Michelle Simson Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Are we restricted to one hour, or can we have a whole session with Ms. Clément?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
There was a motion at the very first meeting we had, and sort of generally at the end of the motion the consensus was it would be one hour. Now, if someone wants to extend that, I am quite prepared. We have until 5:30 if people want to blue-sky on this one.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
One hour? All right. I'm getting nodding of heads. So it's for one hour on March 29 with Madam Clément.
Thank you very much. Is everybody happy? Is there a motion to adjourn?