Status of Women Committee on May 14th, 2012

[Linda Hasenfratz]

I wouldn't say there has been a dramatic increase at all. There are a few more young women in skilled trades than you would have seen 10 or 15 years ago, so a little movement is happening there. On the engineering side, I don't think there has been much change. We're still sitting at only about 20%. It's been stuck there for a while, so I don't think a lot of movement is happening there; hence, that's why I'm trying to encourage some interest, get young women interested in these areas, and paint a picture of the kind of career you could have. It could be very fulfilling and exciting and interesting in a variety of areas. That might not have been the first thing that popped into their heads.

There are plenty of examples for women out there. For instance, there are hugely successful women in the engineering area within the ranks of the automakers, some at the very highest levels, who can be a great inspiration for young women. This can be a really interesting, exciting career that can lead to a lot of opportunity for them.

[Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Conservative, Miramichi, NB]

What impact do role models have on girls? With your experience, you would probably see that. You're saying that lots of girls need to see women in these fields, and that would probably encourage them to join. I'm wondering how girls can be empowered to make these choices and what role models can give to girls in this situation.

[Linda Hasenfratz]

I completely agree: Role models are really important. That's why we should try to highlight the achievements of some of these women in these non-traditional fields, and show how they have been able to choose some very prominent positions and do so while balancing work and home life. These women are not fully career women. We all have families, and we've found a way to balance and make it work.

Role models are really important, and I've heard that from young women who've said that they had seen what I or other women have done and been inspired to go into those types of careers.

Mentors are important for the same reason, people who will work actively with young women to help mould them and help teach them.

Lastly, I think the idea of the champion is really important too. It's not enough to have a mentor, but having somebody within your own organization who is actively promoting you as a woman to get that opportunity is very powerful as well.

[Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Conservative, Miramichi, NB]

You certainly would have experienced lots of challenges on the way and certainly would make a great role model yourself.

Madam Chair, I know we're moving on to committee business, and I want to move that we go in camera at that time. I don't know how much time I have left.

[The Chair, NDP, Marie-Claude Morin]

You have three minutes left, but we have to move on to committee business, scheduled for 5:10 p.m. So the few remaining minutes were to go to Ms. Sgro. There you have it.

[Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, Conservative, Miramichi, NB]

Okay, but I want to move that we—

[The Chair, NDP, Marie-Claude Morin]

Pardon me, but the clerk is telling me that we must vote on that motion straightaway. We will now vote on Ms. O'Neill Gordon's motion that we proceed in camera for committee business.

Ms. Sgro will have her five remaining minutes so she can ask her questions.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Can we have a recorded division?

[The Chair, NDP, Marie-Claude Morin]

Ms. Ashton would like a recorded division.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 4) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, NDP, Marie-Claude Morin]

We will now move in camera, and Ms. Sgro will be able to ask her questions at that point. Then, we will deal with committee business. I am sorry, but we don't have a choice on the matter. The meeting must proceed in camera.

I want to thank the witnesses for joining us today. Your remarks were very useful. The next time, we will have to stick to the agenda. What happened today was that the vote took time away from someone who wanted to ask questions. Next time, I will ask that you wait until we move on to committee business before proposing any related motions.

The meeting will now move in camera. We will break for two minutes to sort out the technical issues. Thank you.

[Proceedings continue in camera]