Status of Women Committee on May 16th, 2019

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

It's interesting to me that you say that the work is basically the same. You're kind of giving a bit of a pat answer, in the sense that the expansion of this department somehow doesn't seem to be of value or of consequence to you, because you're willing to write it off as if it's the same as it's always been, which seems oxymoronic. Does it really make sense, then, to create a new department, to put new funding worth $10 million towards it, when what you just said is that the mandate has basically stayed the same? Those were your words.

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

I value the mandate I already had.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

I haven't asked the question, Minister.

If the mandate has basically stayed the same, then my question would be—and it's a rhetorical question, and you don't need to answer—

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

I'd like to.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

—why all the money, then, towards a mandate that hasn't actually changed?

The Prime Minister hasn't even provided you with a mandate letter, so you don't even know what it is that you're meant to be accomplishing, and Canadians don't actually know what they're supposed to be holding you accountable for.

This poses some very good questions, I believe, that I have put forward here today.

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

All of that is wrong, Madam Chair. I have to correct the record.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

My question for you is....

Actually, one more comment—

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Please get to the question.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

I find it very interesting that, in your opening remarks, you actually didn't talk about your new mandate at all.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Madam Chair, you asked the committee member to get to the question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Thank you.

Just to the question....

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Chair, I'm happy to talk about it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Okay. Hold for one moment.

First of all, with regard to interruptions, just do a point of order, if you don't mind, just as this is taken care of.... I recognize that this is going to be a very testy issue. The fact is, we have questions regarding the mandate letter versus the interpretations.

I would ask that we try to keep to the relevance of it. I understand where you're trying to go on this one, Rachael, but just get to the question to allow her to answer.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

I don't have to. It's my time and I can use it however I want.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Yes. Go forward, but you were saying that you were going to ask a question, that's all.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

And I will do that. Thank you.

For the record, I get seven minutes and I can use it however I choose, as long as I remain on the topic at hand, which I am doing. I would welcome the committee looking at that further, if it wishes to do so.

The point of the matter is this: in the opening remarks there was nothing said with regard to the new mandate. Furthermore, in your remarks you said that the mandate hasn't really changed. That's a direct quote from you.

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

No, it's not.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Further to that, if you are willing to talk about your new mandate, then I wonder if you would find time in your schedule to come back to brief this committee with regard to your new mandate.

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

I am here now, but you won't let me speak.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Now, I have put forward three—

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Let her just finish and we'll give you time.

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

I would like to—

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

I have put forward three motions at this committee asking you to come forward with regard to your new mandate, and they have been shot down by the members opposite, by your posse, which tells me that this is not a topic you're actually wanting to engage in, that you're actually not wanting to discuss your new mandate, which very much concerns me because, again, there are Canadian dollars that are being invested in something that you actually don't have an understanding of.

That is all. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Okay.

[Maryam Monsef, Liberal, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Do I get to respond, Madam Chair?