Good afternoon, Madam Chair. Since this is our first meeting since you were elected, I'd like to congratulate you.
Today, I'd like to submit a notice of motion. My motion reads as follows:
That, in the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, the chair may approve a motion to meet in camera only when the committee is to discuss one of the following subjects: (a) wages, salaries and other employee benefits; (b) contracts and contract negotiations; (c) labour relations and personnel matters; (d) a draft report; and (e) confidential documents or matters, such as those pertaining to national security. And that all votes taken in camera be recorded in the Minutes of Proceedings, including how each member voted when recorded votes are requested.
We are obviously trying to ensure that Parliament's work is transparent. Yet, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women is the committee with the second highest number of in camera meetings. That means the committee is not being transparent. We believe the committee should meet in camera for the reasons I mentioned. We must strive to meet in public to let Canadians in on the good work we are doing.