Evidence of meeting #64 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 projects.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Liberal
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
I'm sorry, Madam Chair, could the clerk please...?
Is there anything in this, if we do not adopt this, or if we defer it or whatever today, that is going to have financial implications on the work we're doing on the committee right now?
No? So, there are no....
I just wanted to make sure that was clarified.
Thank you.
Conservative
Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON
Are we going to vote today, then?
We would like to put it to a vote. It's not going to change.
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
The issue here is that if we have more days at our disposal to look at something as important as the main estimates, this premature deadline, when we know that the end of the fiscal year isn't tomorrow but that we still have some days ahead of us, seems to be rather moot.
This is a very important vote for us. We need time to look at what's before us. We need time to consider the plan. We disagree with voting today, and we find that the reasoning for doing it today rather than waiting for a few days down the line is a moot point, given the window of opportunity we still have ahead of us.
I would like to also second the thoughts brought forward by my colleague Ms. Sgro and respectfully ask the chair that we take time and delay this vote to another day.
Conservative
Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON
I want to check with the clerk on something.
If we delay this, can we still continue our study? Is that what you're saying? It doesn't affect our study in any way—the witnesses, anything?
Do you know this for sure?
NDP
The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin
Our clerk has confirmed that it is the committee's responsibility to decide on that. At any rate, this whole discussion is not leaving any time for us to vote. I am sorry. So we will have to add this to the agenda of an upcoming meeting. What do you think? Can we reach a compromise?
Yes, Ms. Truppe?
Conservative
Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON
The votes were on the agenda paper, though. We knew we were voting on it.
NDP
The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin
Yes, but the time allocated for our committee has run out and another committee will be sitting soon. I am sorry, but we cannot vote.
Yes, Ms. Ambler?
Conservative
Stella Ambler Conservative Mississauga South, ON
Madam Chair, I think we do have time to vote. Can we call the question, please?
NDP
The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin
Okay, but I feel bad for those waiting for the room.
First, we must vote on...
Yes, Ms. Ashton?
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
I'm not sure what's going on here. The date today is March 19. We're talking about the end of the fiscal year. We are 11 days out of that and somehow we have this ultimatum, which is unacceptable. If we're talking about having to make financial considerations before the end of the fiscal year, March 19 is not the end of the fiscal year.
NDP
The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin
Unfortunately, that is not a point of order, Ms. Ashton.
I'm not sure what you would like to do, but we would have to start by voting on Ms. Sgro's motion.
Conservative
Wai Young Conservative Vancouver South, BC
On a point of order, the question has been called by my colleague.
NDP
The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin
It is 1 p.m., Ms. Young. The meeting is over and another committee has to do its work. I am sorry, but we cannot proceed with the vote. We will vote some other time.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
The question has been called. Madam Chair, we're not here for administrative efficiencies; we're here to get the job done. We're not here to accommodate administrative efficiencies. You have spent the last five minutes not addressing the call for the question. I think that's important for the record, with respect, Madam Chair. You have terminated the meeting because of administrative efficiencies.
NDP
The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin
I don't agree with your accusation, Ms. Bateman. I have been listening to you for 10 minutes.
Conservative
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
The question has been called and we asked to vote.
NDP
The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin
The clerk told me that the members of the opposition have left, so we cannot vote.
Yes, Ms. Truppe?
Conservative
Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON
Madame Chair, can I make a motion that we extend the meeting so we can finish the vote? Can we do that?
NDP
The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin
Unfortunately, we cannot do that, because the members of the opposition have left. We do not have a quorum at the moment.
The clerk has confirmed that we cannot vote right now. We will add this to our next agenda or as soon as possible.
In addition, other people have reserved the room for another committee meeting.
One moment, please. The clerk will see if she can address your concerns.
Yes, Ms. James?
Conservative
Roxanne James Conservative Scarborough Centre, ON
I want to point out as well that you did not officially adjourn the meeting, so the members who were sitting opposite got up in the middle of our meeting and left. The motion or the question had already been put to this committee, and the fact that some people have left is not the problem on this side. We'd like to proceed with that—