Evidence of meeting #9 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 union.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Tom Dufresne  President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada
Susan O'Donnell  Executive Director, B.C. Human Rights Coalition
Barbara Byers  Executive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress
Greg Vurdela  Vice-President, Marketing and Information Systems, British Columbia Maritime Employers Association
Eleanor Marynuik  Vice-President, Human Resources, British Columbia Maritime Employers Association

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

Madam Chair, this is through you to Madam Demers, because she seems pretty passionate that we should have this done before the G8 and I think--

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Yes. So we really only have two weeks.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON

Yes. I would suggest that we do that, then, if everybody else... I would suggest that we study it during those two weeks and issue a report before the G8. That way, it's of some use. Then we go from there.

If we deal with Madam Boucher's amendment, and then perhaps to just give ourselves some comfort on the timing—or we can amend it right now—you can amend it so that it states that during those two weeks we will deal with this specific topic. That way we can have it done. Otherwise, you're right, in that there's no point in doing it if it's... We know that we're not going to solve all the problems, but at least we can have something done before the G8, if Madam Demers is comfortable with that.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

However, Madam Demers, if we're going to say “dans tous ses aspects”, then you can't do it in two weeks. We'll just have to decide if we're going to take that out--

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC

No, I want us to add “in all its aspects”. I want us to study all aspects.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Okay. Well, then, we have a problem.

All right. May I suggest, then, that we do not necessarily have a friendly amendment? Let us discuss this as a new motion. It's not a friendly amendment anymore.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

Was it not already accepted as...?

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

It was accepted, but everyone felt they had a timeline. I've just given you... The analyst just told me that we only have those two weeks to do it before June, so now that you know this, do we want to look at this as not an appropriate motion anymore and say that it has to be dealt with as an amendment on its own? Then we'll deal with the amendment and then go back to Madam Demers' motion.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC

This is very simple, Madam Chair, but I am getting the impression that it has become quite complicated. That is disturbing. You know how passionate I am about this issue.

Ms. Boucher, you wanted to say something on the subject. Do you have an amendment to make to your amendment?

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC

No, but I would like to know two things.

If we remove “in all its aspects”, how would it read? I do not have it properly written in front of me.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

If we remove “in all its aspects”, it would read as follows: “That the committee study maternal and child health following the government's announcement to make maternal and child health a priority at the G8 in June that Canada will be hosting as long as this is done before the end of May”.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC

I will quit complicating things.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Are you okay with that?

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC

Yes.

I am okay with that.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Good. Now we have an amended motion. I'm going to read the amended motion. I just read it in French. Now I'll read it in English: “That the Committee study maternal and child health following the government's announcement to make maternal and child health a priority at the G8 in June that Canada will be hosting, as long as this is done before the end of May”.

We now have a motion.

5:20 p.m.

Bloc

Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC

Madam Chair, I completely agree with this motion.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

That's good. Now I will call the question if there is no further debate. Those in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

The motion is carried--unanimously, I might note.

5:20 p.m.

Bloc

Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC

Madam Chair, I would like to point out for the record that this is a first for the committee. It is the first time this year that the committee has unanimously passed a motion. I am very pleased.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC

The lady is pleased, and I am pleased that she is pleased.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you, Madam Demers. That's very kind of you.

Now that we have passed that motion, I'd like to move quickly to the next one. We have another motion, which I had been given notice of on March 29. It's from Madam Demers and it says:

That the committee send the report entitled “Women and Pension Security” to the federal Minister of Finance, who is involved in Canada-wide consultations on the pension system, before the federal-provincial finance ministers' meeting scheduled for this coming May.

I will read it in English: “That the Committee send the report entitled Women and Pension Security to the federal Minister of Finance, who is involved in Canada-wide consultations on the pension system, before the federal-provincial finance ministers' meeting scheduled for this coming May.

Shall I call the question? Is there discussion? Seeing none, those in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

This is the second motion unanimously carried. That's very good.

Now I'm going to ask that we suspend for a quick second so that we can go in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]