Evidence of meeting #133 for Status of Women in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was seniors.
A video is available from Parliament.
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
I don't see how this has anything to do with the motion that was presented or with our ministry that we're here for or are serving on this committee. I don't think this should continue.
9:30 a.m.
The Vice-Chair Ms. Irene Mathyssen
Thank you.
I do want to remind you, Ms. Harder, that your motion has to do with bringing the minister to this committee. You need to restrict your comments to that motion.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Okay. It seems appropriate to read the mandate letter that was written to the minister of this committee, the Minister of Status of Women, which is what this committee has to do with.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
No, I'm actually not done. I got interrupted. I have every right, according to the Standing Orders, to resume my conversation.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
The mandate letter is in fact within the mandate of this committee. If it's not, if you're ruling it out of order that I would read the mandate letter to the minister of this department....
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
On a point of order, I think it's disrespectful to our witnesses that we're taking up most of the time they have to answer our questions. We're here so that we can find out more on how to help seniors. I don't think this has anything to do with it.
If she would like, we could continue reading this motion at a later date, when we no longer have witnesses from Quebec here. I would really appreciate that.
9:30 a.m.
The Vice-Chair Ms. Irene Mathyssen
Thank you very much. I do appreciate your concern, and certainly we did come to hear the witnesses, but Ms. Harder is within her rights to continue with her motion.
Continue, please.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I do apologize to the witnesses. Unfortunately, we're given limited opportunity to bring these forward—
9:30 a.m.
Salma Zahid Scarborough Centre, Lib.
On a point of order, Chair, yes, she has the right, but it has to be relevant to the Status of Women—
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
I don't know what's more relevant than the mandate letter.
9:30 a.m.
Scarborough Centre, Lib.
—and to this committee, and not outside the purview of this committee.
9:30 a.m.
The Vice-Chair Ms. Irene Mathyssen
I'm sorry, Mrs. Zahid. She is indeed within her rights.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you.
The Prime Minister goes on to say, “If we want Canadians to trust their government, we need a government that trusts Canadians. It is important that we acknowledge mistakes when we make them.” I look forward to the Prime Minister's apology. He continues: “Canadians do not expect us to be perfect—they expect us to be honest, open, and sincere in our efforts to serve the public interest.” Indeed they do, don't they?
His letter continues:
Our platform guides our government. Over the course of our four-year mandate, I expect us to deliver on our commitments. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we fulfill our promises, while living within our fiscal plan. Other issues will arise or will be brought to our attention by Canadians, stakeholders, and the public service. It is my expectation that you will engage constructively and thoughtfully and add priorities to your agenda when appropriate.
He also says, “As Minister, you will be held accountable”—there's that word again—“for our commitment to bring a different style of leadership to government.” What a vision. He said that this will include “close collaboration with your colleagues” and “meaningful engagement with Opposition Members of Parliament”. That's a key phrase there, because right now, today, the motion that is on the table is asking the minister to come here to this committee, where she can engage with members of her party, the Liberal Party of Canada, as well as members of the opposition from the New Democratic Party and the Conservative Party of Canada.
It would seem, then, to fit within the mandate letter written by the Prime Minister. These are his own words that I am giving today. I know you guys want to shut me down, but these are his words. You actually want me to stop reading the Prime Minister's words, because it would appear they make you uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, in addition to encouraging the minister to allow the opposition members to hold her accountable and, let's say, invite her to a committee like this, he goes on to say this:
Canadians expect us, in our work, to reflect the values we all embrace: inclusion, honesty, hard work, fiscal prudence, and generosity of spirit. We will be a government that governs for all Canadians....
Madam Chair, I would ask for a point of order here. On the opposite side, members are chatting and I have the mike. If you wouldn't mind just bringing this to order, I will continue reading the mandate letter.
9:35 a.m.
The Vice-Chair Ms. Irene Mathyssen
Yes. I would appreciate it, though, Ms. Harder, if you would continue and wrap up quickly.
9:35 a.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
I would love to continue, thank you.
the values we all embrace: inclusion, honesty, hard work, fiscal prudence, and generosity of spirit. We will be a government that governs for all Canadians, and I expect you, in your work, to bring Canadians together.
You are expected to do your part to fulfill our government’s commitment to transparent, merit-based appointments, to help ensure gender parity and that Indigenous Peoples and minority groups are better reflected in positions of leadership.
There's that key word again, “transparent”.
Interestingly enough, indigenous peoples are better reflected in positions of leadership, but the only indigenous minister was just strong-armed and then removed. He goes on to say:
As Minister of Status of Women, your overarching goal will be to ensure government policy, legislation, and regulations are sensitive to the different impacts that decisions can have on men and women.... I will expect you to work with your colleagues and through established legislative, regulatory, and Cabinet processes to deliver on your top priorities.
I would draw attention to some key words within this mandate letter: a “transparent” government, “a new tone” being brought to Ottawa, delivering “real results”, a government that functions with “honesty”, inviting the accountability and input from opposition members. All these things seem positive; they're good. The Prime Minister was right to request these things of his minister. Where he is wrong, however, is in his hypocritical actions by which he himself does not abide by the words of this letter, nor does he permit the members of his caucus to do so.
My request today, then, is that the Liberals would live up to the words of the Prime Minister, as he goes on to say:
We have committed to an open, honest government that is accountable to Canadians, lives up to the highest ethical standards, and applies the utmost care and prudence in the handling of public funds. I expect you to embody these values in your work and observe the highest ethical standards in everything you do. When dealing with our Cabinet colleagues, Parliament, stakeholders, or the public, it is important that your behaviour and decisions meet Canadians’ well-founded expectations of our government. I want Canadians to look on their own government with pride and trust.
Public opinion might say otherwise on that.
This is a good one:
As Minister, you must ensure that you are aware of and fully compliant with the Conflict of Interest Act and Treasury Board policies and guidelines. You will be provided with a copy of Open and Accountable Government to assist you as you undertake your responsibilities.
He should have read his own mandate letter. He goes on:
[Y]ou must uphold the highest standards of honesty and impartiality, and both the performance of your official duties and the arrangement of your private affairs should bear the closest public scrutiny. This is an obligation that is not fully discharged by simply acting within the law.
9:40 a.m.
The Vice-Chair Ms. Irene Mathyssen
Ms. Harder, you seem to be getting rather repetitive here. Again, I would like you to wrap up as quickly as you can.
9:40 a.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you. I am just reading the mandate letter from the Prime Minister, so if it's repetitive, I apologize. Those are his words.
9:40 a.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
I would love to continue, thank you. It continues:
Please also review the areas of Open and Accountable Government that we have expanded or strengthened, including the guidance on non-partisan use of departmental communications resources and the new code of conduct for exempt staff.
Madam Chair, I have just read the bulk of the Prime Minister's mandate letter to the Minister of Status of Women. It would appear, then, based on that letter, that it is a good idea for the minister to come to this committee, that she be invited to come and be open and transparent, to provide us with the reflection on her department and how it has changed, and to allow us as members of the opposition, as well as members of her own government, to hold her accountable and to become more familiar with her department.
I would again submit this motion, for the third time. It is my hope that the members opposite to me will uphold the Prime Minister's own words and allow there to be accountability, allow there to be transparency, allow there to be a new tone that is brought to government.
Now, I understand that the minister is coming to this committee to talk about the estimates on March 21. I am not asking for that meeting; that is for the estimates. I am asking for the minister to come to this meeting to brief us on the change of her department. So make no mistake; this is what I am requesting. I am requesting that the minister come, that we be able to ask her questions with regard to the change that has been made in her mandate, and that we therefore would be empowered to do our job as members of this committee.