Evidence of meeting #6 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 witnesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
—that we will start with the violence against women whilst we gather witnesses and a work-plan draft on the GBA.
Is there any discussion on the motion? I see none.
(Motion agreed to)
5 p.m.
NDP
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
May I ask a question?
With other studies that I've been involved in, there has been a scope of work, and we know what it is we're working towards and what we're trying to achieve. Is it understood that the motions passed are what describes the work plan, or are we to expect or should we solicit a more specific mandate? That would help me know what additional witnesses to pull in. That's one question.
The other is the number. Are we allocated, per party, a certain number of witnesses that we get to prioritize or choose? I've heard of other committees doing that. I'm not sure what the practice of this committee has been.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
For your first question, when it comes to the steering team taking a look at the work plan, that is an opportunity to provide scoping recommendations that would have to come back to the committee as a whole to be looked at. There is nothing preventing you from making a motion to get the steering committee to go do that specifically, get that task done. That was the first question.
The second question—
5 p.m.
NDP
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
It's about the number of witnesses. Is there an allocation on a per party basis or is it a collective decision?
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
It depends on the committee. In some committees, they would put the witnesses forward and then they would move or vote, which is another possibility. We've taken the holistic approach that we have all of them. There is a possibility that it could be a voted witness list. That's at the will of the committee. I would entertain a motion at this time, if there was a recommendation from the committee, about how you want to allocate witnesses.
5 p.m.
Liberal
Sean Fraser Liberal Central Nova, NS
This seems completely appropriate to be dealt with by the subcommittee on agenda and procedure.
I would move that we direct this question to the subcommittee on agenda and procedure at their next meeting.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
Is there any discussion on that motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Is there any other committee business that we wish to discuss at this time?
Ms. Damoff.
5 p.m.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
I would just like to thank you. This has not been an easy process for any of us, Marilyn, and we're all new. It's been a bit like herding cats, and you've been very patient. You're doing an outstanding job in trying to steer us into motions and get us moving. I just want to thank you.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
You're welcome. Certainly, I'm new as well at learning the parliamentary process. I think I'm starting to get the hang of it, though. In terms of trying to see how to move things forward, I want to be fair but I want things to move along so that we do get things accomplished.
There was some favour around the discussion earlier of having this committee complete the online GBA training. Would there be a motion or an interest in bringing a motion that this committee achieve that by the end of April?
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
So moved by Ms. Damoff.
The motion is that we would all complete the online GBA training by the end of April.
Is there discussion on the motion?
Ms. Nassif.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Eva Nassif Liberal Vimy, QC
We can find it on the website of the Status of Women, but would you send us a reminder? It would be a reminder for all of us, so we can do it maybe in the next week.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
That's a very good recommendation. The clerk will send a link.
Is there other discussion on the motion?
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Sean Fraser Liberal Central Nova, NS
Chair, I was just going to suggest, in an informal way, that we all encourage our staff to complete the module online as well, but I don't want to bind them to our motion.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
I'll add to Mr. Fraser's suggestion. Right now, all of the consensus process inside the NDP caucus involves gender consideration. When we make recommendations to each other, we ask what impact it has on gender.
I am now talking with our whip's office and House leader's office about whether we can bump that up and use GBA+ in that measure, so there's a consideration that we might talk with our party, House leaders, and whips about maybe encouraging them to take the test as well. Then they might have more of a sense of whether that can fit into each caucus's process as well.
Thanks for the motion. It's a great idea.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
I'm really sorry because I should have been paying attention, but I was actually in conversation with the clerk. She says that I can't force any committee member to actually take the training. She said that we can encourage them, which is exactly what you said.
Is there a motion coming forward, then, to take it further than that?
5:05 p.m.
NDP
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
No, it's just an informal encouragement to caucus members to encourage their own House leader and party whip to consider taking the test as well, because I think it will help all of our processes.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
It might be an idea to send an email out with the link to all of them.
I'm the chair. I'm remaining neutral in this area.
Ms. Nassif.