Status of Women Committee on April 6th, 2017

[Laura Munn-Rivard]

Absolutely. We can provide a summary of the evidence of the meetings—

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

Okay.

[Laura Munn-Rivard]

—but if you want to have a summary of evidence for the briefs and the deadline for the briefs is the 21st, that gets to be challenging.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

I hate to put too much on our analysts, but is it workable for you guys to do a summary of what we've heard by the time we break to go back to the constituencies and to then, three days before clause-by-clause, get a summary of the written evidence through briefs?

[Laura Munn-Rivard]

Our last meeting is on April 13.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Yes.

[Laura Munn-Rivard]

We could try to get you something probably by Monday, April 24, translated.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

That would be great.

[Laura Munn-Rivard]

You could have a week to consider that information.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

Okay.

[Laura Munn-Rivard]

The challenge, then, is that the submitted written briefs will not be considered to the same extent. They would not be included in that summary. It would be up to all of you to read those and consider them.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

I think that's a workable compromise from my perspective. Is that okay with everyone else?

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

I'm thinking that it's absolutely fine, even if, instead of going to April 21, which is great, we give people that weekend so that we go to maybe even April 19. That gives you an extra two working days, and then, instead of saying that Friday is the deadline, maybe the Wednesday is the deadline. If there's that concern about time, is there a way we can do that?

[Laura Munn-Rivard]

Yes. If you give us until April 19—unless we get 50 briefs on April 19—we should be able to incorporate that information and still get you something as soon as possible.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

All right. Just so you keep track of where we are, we have the correction of the name on the work plan, plus the receipt of briefs by the 19th, with a summary of evidence interim report by the 24th. Also, on the economic security study, we would have up to April 30 to put forward additional witnesses.

With those amendments, all in favour?

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

You said April...?

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

For which one? It's April 30 for the economic security study.

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

All in favour?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

That's wonderful. Thank you so much.

Ms. Malcolmson.

[Sheila Malcolmson, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

I have a notice of motion that I want to give for our next meeting. I'll give out copies here.

I have two items. On the first one, I'll read out what the motion will be, but I know that we won't actually debate this until next week.

I will move:

That the Committee invite the Minister of the Status of Women, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, to appear before the Committee at the earliest opportunity to brief the Committee Members and respond to questions on her progress, to-date, in implementing Gender-Based Analysis Plus; that, in addition, Treasury Board Secretariat officials be invited to appear at this meeting to update Committee members on the Secretariat's response to Gender-Based Analysis Plus; and that this meeting be televised.

I'll just say as background that we received a March 31 report on the interim progress report, which is directly linked to the committee's recommendation that we gave last spring, but we hadn't received that report by the time the minister appeared. I think it would be helpful for us to be able to talk with her directly about that. I'll give a copy of this to the clerk.

For my second motion, again, next week I will move:

That the Committee invite the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Bill Morneau, at the earliest opportunity to explain the effect of Budget 2017 on women and girls; and that this meeting be televised.

When I move the motion, I can talk a bit more about the rationale, but I think probably the big picture is clear. We've had a lot of new programs and new announcements unrolled, and I think it would be helpful for the committee to be able to hear directly from him on the government's direction.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Very good.

[Sheila Malcolmson, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

That's in order. Is there any other business?

[Sheila Malcolmson, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Can I say one more thing?

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Sure.