Status of Women Committee on Dec. 7th, 2010

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I certainly support the motion. I think it's even more important now that we have the other members from the Department of Foreign Affairs that Ms. Simson cited in her motion, particularly in light of the apparent discrepancy on Mr. Kessel's part--I wasn't here.

But I also want to emphasize that I think it's equally important to note that we have had 10 organizations, including some long-standing organizations that are always willing to appear before a parliamentary committee, decline their attendance here. I'm speaking of organizations such as Amnesty International, Care Canada, the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, World Vision Canada, and the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Anecdotally what we are hearing is that there is a fear on their part to appear, because it will potentially affect their funding.

In light of the unwillingness or problems with so many organizations.... The list we have that the clerk sent out is for 10 people; we have six more people pending who have not responded. There's something amiss here, and I think it's important that we hear from as many people in government as we can so that we can try to get to the bottom of this.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

I'll call the question.

Those in favour of the motion? Those opposed?

Ms. Cadman, are you abstaining?

[Dona Cadman, Conservative, Surrey North, BC]

Yes.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

All right. The motion carries. We will send out the letter inviting the various people. The clerk will do that as soon as possible.

We will have to discuss when we hold those two meetings, given that time is moving here. It may mean that we cannot finish these hearings before the House rises, so we may have to bring this back when we come back in January. I just want the committee to understand that this is probably what's going to have to happen.

I have another motion, a motion from Madame Demers, which everyone would have been given on December 1. It states:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee believes that polygamy goes against the right the equality between men and women and recommends that the government affirm that this practice does not reflect the values of democratic societies.

That this motion be reported to the House at the first opportunity.

Madame Demers.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Let me simply note that this very morning, a newspaper article asked the Department of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism to be very careful because some polygamous men are trying to enter into Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper personally asked that they be turned away.

This is straightforward. We must not accept polygamous practices in Canada. We must not accept them, especially as Bountiful is on trial in British Columbia at this time. We must make sure that all polygamous practices are rejected.

These women, these young girls have very often been married against their will, even before reaching the age of 15 or 16, which is the legal age for sexual relations.

I think that it is abominable for women to be in such a situation. I tabled this motion so that we will be sure to vote against polygamy.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Ms. McLeod.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm certainly not against the motion. I look at what's happening--and it's next to my riding--with great concern. I do want to note that it's before the courts right now and I think we'll all be watching that very closely. I wonder, pending what that outcome is, whether this might actually be a good study for us to do at some point. I think we should be looking at it in more detail.

My question is, would it be a little premature? Certainly at the end of the day I will support this motion, but should we actually do a bit of a study on this issue first, is my one question?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Ms. Demers, do you have a response to that?

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Madam Chair, I think that a study will probably be called for, but first we must make sure that we vote against polygamy.

I do not see how going ahead now with a vote to make sure we vote against polygamy... The Quebec National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion against polygamy. I was hoping that our committee would also unanimously adopt a motion against polygamy so that we could study it in the House afterward.

Certainly, we will be able to study this topic afterward, but, at least, it would be good to unanimously adopt a motion against polygamy, so as to affirm that the Standing Committee on the Status of Women has joined the fight against polygamy.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

So you're not ruling out the study; you're just ruling it out at this point in time.

Ms. Mathyssen.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I wonder if Madame Demers would accept a friendly amendment in the last line and change it to “does not reflect the values of equality”. I think that might focus it a bit more.

But I did also want to say that Madame Demers has pointed out quite rightly that some of these children, these young women, are 15 years of age, and that goes against the passage of the government's own law on sexual interference in regard to women under the age of 16. I think it is appropriate that we go to the House, have this concern raised, and have the government affirm that this is a practice that Canada does not accept.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You are suggesting the change of the word “values” and from “democratic societies” to--

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

Equality.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

That is “values of equality”.

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

Yes.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

But in the sentence it says:

“the right to equality between men and women”.

[An hon. member]

Or “gender equality”.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I was about to suggest equality between men and women, between women and men, gender equality, whatever.

[An hon. member]

It's equality between men and women. That's all we need to say.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

It's written....

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

I understand that. It's just that sometimes the values of democratic societies get a bit muddy.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Because there are many democratic societies that on religious grounds do practise polygamy, so it really doesn't hold here.

Do you want to say “gender equality”?

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Yes: “values of gender equality”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Okay. There is a actually a difference between gender equality and equality between women and men.

That's it. Now I will call the question. I don't see anybody else wanting to speak.

Go ahead.