Status of Women Committee on Dec. 14th, 2021

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Madam Chair, I would like to submit three notices of motion. They have been translated and I can read them, so that they can one day become studies for the committee. I will do so quickly because everyone seems to be in a hurry to leave. I move:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on—

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Excuse me.

Is the motion in both French and English and have you provided—

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

I can read them in English as well, or leave the sheet—

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Do you have a copy for the translation booth?

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

We will have the translation into English emailed to committee members. But, while we wait, I can read them in French and English right here before we leave, so that notice of the motions has been submitted.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Go ahead, Emmanuella.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

I wanted to let you know that I also have two motions to present for consideration. I've translated them and have enough for everybody around the table.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Marc, did you have something...?

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Madam Chair, I also had them for translation and for distribution around the table. So I would like to have the floor so that I can read my motions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Okay. I'm just seeing this. One moment, please.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

They were emailed already.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

I just wanted to verify it because, as we know, it is as the committee wishes for motions to be read.

Andréanne, I would be happy for you to be able to read those in today, but I also want to take into consideration the debate and the fact that the fiscal update is coming at four o'clock.

I'm just going to look at everybody and say that I don't know if your motions are long, but what we can do today is read them into the record so that they have been read into the record. We can also take the opportunity for Emmanuella to do that. After that, we would allow the debate at our next business meeting. We would discuss it then and not make a decision today on how we proceed.

Is that okay with you, Andréanne?

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Yes, exactly. The goal today is just to introduce the motions for future study by the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

That's perfection.

Today what we'll do is put the notice of motions. I will allow Andréanne to put hers forward, followed by Emmanuella, and those will be read into the record. Following that, there will be no debate. We will open the debate at our next meeting.

Go ahead, Andréanne. You have the floor.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. My thanks also to the members of the committee. I will read the motions quickly, so that you can attend the important economic update. However, our motions are also important.

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on the various legislative experiences of states and countries that have created legislation to criminalize coercive and manipulative behaviour and on any other public policy tools and measures to address psychological and family violence. That the Committee dedicate at least five (5) meetings to this issue and report its findings and recommendations to the House.

Here is the text of the second motion:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on how women’s participation in politics is affected by the political party funding model. That the Committee dedicate at least four (4) meetings to this issue and report its findings and recommendations to the House.

Here is the text of the final motion I am introducing today:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on honour crimes as a type of family violence to better understand the violence perpetrated by family members against girls and women while following traditional codes of honour; and that the study include: a) the phenomenon of honour crimes; b) the federal legislation that prevents or limits this type of violence; and c) best practices for preventing this violence and protecting vulnerable people from it. That the Committee dedicate at least five (5) meetings to this issue and report its findings and recommendations to the House.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I hope I will have the opportunity to debate with you at an upcoming meeting of the committee, when we come back from the holidays.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Thank you.

Emmanuella, we will pass it over to you.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

Thank you.

The first motion is as follows:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study examining the factors contributing to mental health issues experienced by young women and girls, including but not limited to eating disorders, addiction, depression, anxiety and suicide; that the committee provide attention to the impact of online harms and issues regarding self-esteem in young women and girls; that the committee hear from witnesses and departmental officials for no fewer than six meetings; that the committee consider ways in which the Government of Canada can continue to strengthen mental health supports for young women and girls and report its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a response thereto.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Madam Chair, the interpreters do not have the text of the motions at hand and they seem to be saying that Ms. Lambropoulos is speaking too quickly.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

I submitted my—

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

We'll get the motion to them. That's not a problem.

Thank you very much, Andréanne, for informing us.

Emmanuella, you have the same disease I have. We speak too fast. Our brain is going—

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

I was just trying to get us to the fall economic statement a little bit quicker, but I'll take my time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Awesome. Thank you.

Does everybody have the work now? Excellent.

Go ahead, Andréanne.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Madam Chair, I am not getting the interpretation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

There's no translation...?

Okay. We're good now.

Go ahead, please.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

My motion reads as follows:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study examining the factors contributing to mental health issues experienced by young women and girls, including but not limited to eating disorders, addiction, depression, anxiety and suicide; that the committee provide attention to the impact of online harms and issues regarding self-esteem in young women and girls; that the committee hear from witnesses and departmental officials for no less than six meetings; that the committee consider ways in which the Government of Canada can continue to strengthen mental health supports for young women and girls and report its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a response thereto.