Evidence of meeting #1 for Status of Women in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was liberal.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mrs. Julie-Anne Macdonald

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Mrs. Julie-Anne Macdonald

Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.

My name is Julie-Anne Macdonald and I am the clerk of the committee.

I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions, cannot entertain points of order, nor participate in debate.

We can now proceed to the election of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the official opposition.

I am ready to receive motions for the chair.

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

Good afternoon everyone. I am very pleased to be part of this committee as the official critic for the status of women.

I would like to nominate Niki Ashton for the position of committee chair.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

It has been moved by Ms. Boivin that Ms. Ashton be elected as chair of the committee.

Are there any further motions?

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Ms. Ashton duly elected chair of the committee.

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

Before inviting Ms. Ashton to take the chair, if the committee wishes we'll proceed to the election of the vice-chairs.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the government party.

I am now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.

Ms. Bateman.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

I'd like to nominate Tilly O'Neill Gordon.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON

I move that nominations be closed.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

Are there any further motions?

It has been moved by Ms. Bateman that Ms. Tilly O'Neill Gordon be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(The motion is carried)

I declare the motion carried and Ms. O'Neill Gordon duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.

I am now prepared to receive motions for the second vice-chair.

Mr. Holder.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON

It would be my honour to nominate Judy Sgro.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

It has been moved by Mr. Holder that Madam Sgro be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Ms. Sgro duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

I now invite Ms. Ashton to take the chair.

3:35 p.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Niki Ashton

First of all, thank you very much. It's a real honour to have been nominated and supported to be chair of the status of women committee, a committee that I was honoured to be part of in the last Parliament and certainly a committee that I believe in a great deal. I am looking forward to working with every single one of you, women and men, to ensure that we move forward in an area that is so important to all of us, essentially, the status of women in our country.

If I may, I will just start off by saying that my priority is to make sure that we have a respectful and certainly equal approach to debate and discussion, and I look forward to bringing that forward as I can, as chair, and I would hope that we can all be part of that valiant effort.

Again, thank you very much.

I understand that the first order would be to discuss the routine motions. Would it be the wish of the committee to enter into that discussion?

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

3:35 p.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Niki Ashton

We'll begin with the sheet outlining the routine motions.

The first one deals with services of analysts from the Library of Parliament. On the left we have what was adopted in the last Parliament and on the right is the proposal for this Parliament.

Is there support for the proposal for this Parliament? It is found in the right-hand column.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON

I move that motion.

3:35 p.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Niki Ashton

Is the committee in agreement that we accept the first one?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Excellent. I would like to invite our analyst to come and join us at the front here.

We'll move on to routine motion number 2, which deals with establishing the subcommittee on agenda and procedure. Do we have a mover of the motion?

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON

I move the motion.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

3:40 p.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Niki Ashton

The second motion is accepted.

We can move to motion number 3. Is there a motion to--

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

I want an explanation first, before we have a motion on this one.

What is the subtlety or the thinking behind “that the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive” or “that the chair be authorized to hold meetings and to receive”?

Is that significant or is that just accidental?

3:40 p.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Niki Ashton

I understand that the intent is that in the event that witnesses are unable to make it to the committee and are held back for some urgent or last-minute reason, this is to be able to have the chance to hear from them. This would not be a votable submission.

Pardon me. That was a misunderstanding on my part. It is actually so that if all the members are not here at the beginning of the meeting, but the witnesses are, we would be able to begin the meeting and begin to hear from the witnesses while waiting for members to arrive.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

What is the difference? I'm just curious.

3:40 p.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Niki Ashton

There is no difference in the intent. It's just that the wording was altered slightly.