Status of Women Committee on Feb. 20th, 2020

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond Centre, BC]

Sometimes the French version and the English version may not match. Many of us here are bilingual. We should allow friendly amendments just because of the language, to make it clearer. We shouldn't shoot down a motion just because of that. We've done it before.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Is there anything further on this discussion?

I'm looking at our schedule for next week. We have two dates: Tuesday, February 25 and Thursday, February 27.

On February 25 we'll be doing the motions, as well as speaking to the department. We need to look at what we're going to be doing on February 27.

I don't know whether that gives us an appropriate amount of time. Perhaps we can look at the estimates at that time. I just want to throw it out to you. Perhaps we will have already decided what the study is going to be, and maybe that's going to be enough time. We'll invite the department, the department will come back and we'll do the estimates and discuss what our motion is. That may be too quick, but if we decide on Tuesday, perhaps the department can come here and also do the briefing on the specific topic we're going to be discussing and studying.

Yes, Gudie.

[Gudie Hutchings, Liberal, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Karen, I think that's good. We'll hear from the department. We'll have a chance to look at all the motions, and I agree with you. I think there are going to be similarities, and to Alice's point, we might need to tweak a little bit how we get to there, and who knows? We might have one that we can get right out of the blocks on the 27th, so maybe we should wait until then.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

I think we're doing really well, so that's wonderful.

Once the motions we have decided on.... If we cannot come to an agreement on Tuesday, of course, that will be extended. Looking at this committee, I think there are going to be some great ideas that we can put forward, and we'll have a majority decide on one, so we could possibly start a study. Perhaps we'll also look at the estimates on that Thursday. As I said, everybody will have those estimates in their mailbox, so let's pencil that in for Thursday's discussion.

This afternoon, as many of you may know, we have an informal meeting with Harriet Harman. She's an MP. She will be here from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in room 225A in West Block.

I'd like to just find out now who will be able to attend today. There will be four or five of us; that's wonderful. I think it would be great if anyone else can make it. I recognize that we have tight schedules.

We'll have the briefing from the departmental officials as well as our motions on Tuesday. On Thursday we'll do the department with the estimates and hopefully be able to start our study.

Is there anything else you're concerned with?

Many times, when we're going through the estimates, the minister will also be asked to join. Is it the will of the committee to ask the minister to also attend Thursday's meeting, if we can get the estimates done?

[Gudie Hutchings, Liberal, Long Range Mountains, NL]

I can ask her. I know Minister Monsef is willing to come to committee any time, but I can't speak for her until I have staff check with her office.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

We will send a formal invitation.

All those in favour of inviting the minister to attend?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

I know I keep referring back to the 42nd Parliament, but I think it's really important that we have all sides of the story, all sides of the studies. In the past I have asked that, when you are sending in your lists, you prioritize those people who you ultimately want to see. Those are going to be your number ones, two and threes. That person who's number 20 is, if you're thinking you've got to put somebody in, but if we don't hear from them, that will be okay. I would ask that all parties, when you're putting in your lists, to please prioritize them. Who are your top three? Who are your top five? Who are your top 10? I think that brings different ideas to it all.

Please send those lists in, and then we can work them in. In the past, the clerk and the analysts have worked really well putting groups together to make sure that, when we're focusing on a specific topic, we have groups that can all work together. I know that they have done an excellent job on that, so there might be a little bit of a theme to those panels.

One other discussion is about timing. Is there a preference? I've seen different committees do different things. Is there a limit to how many witnesses you would like to see? It could be one hour of two or three witnesses, for example. Is there anything that you've seen that you want to adopt from other committees that you think would be in our best interest, or should we just continue with small, one-hour, two- or three-witness panels moving forward?

Gudie.

[Gudie Hutchings, Liberal, Long Range Mountains, NL]

I think we have to see what the motion is before we can determine how many people we need. I also think we have to make sure we have representation from coast to coast to coast, rural and urban, and that we have indigenous peoples and LGBTQ people. We make sure we have full representation of whatever we discuss.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

That sounds very fair.

Are there any other questions or comments?

Since there are no questions or comments, our next meeting will be next Tuesday at 11 a.m. There will be a notice sent out to you with a reminder of this meeting and the agenda. I look forward to meeting with everybody.

Motions should be in by four o'clock tomorrow. I know that we talked about doing different things, but let's get working on this together.

Seeing no other business, today's meeting is adjourned.