Status of Women Committee on Sept. 16th, 2024

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

I call the meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 119 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women.

Before we begin, I would like to ask all in-person participants to read the guidelines written on the updated cards on the table. These measures are in place to help prevent audio and feedback incidents and to protect the health and safety of all participants, including the interpreters. You will also notice a QR code on the card, which links to a short awareness video.

I'd like to remind all members of the following points.

Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. All comments should be addressed through the chair. Members, please raise your hand if you wish to speak, whether participating in person or via Zoom.

I would like to welcome you all back from the summer break.

I'd also like to acknowledge that today, as chair, I will be standing in the House to table the report on the red dress alert. I'm looking forward to doing that right after question period today. I'm glad we were able to get that done.

Moving forward, we have a meeting on committee business. Before we get into more dialogue in relation to committee business, I'd like to raise a couple of points about where we are, where we've come from and where we need to be going, through my lens.

First of all, there is a request for budget approval to cover the costs associated with the meeting of July 31. It was circulated to everyone. The budget is $5,750. Does the committee approve that budget?

Go ahead, Lisa.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

I'm concerned about the budget. I'm not saying I won't approve it, but nobody else had an opportunity to bring witnesses to that meeting. Nobody approved that meeting in advance. Here we are, being asked to approve a budget of $5,000 afterwards.

I know a witness was brought in from California and had a plane ticket, yet other committee members weren't advised about that until an hour before the meeting.

I'd just like to put on the record my concerns about how that all played out. I don't think it's fair to come to the committee and ask us to approve a budget after the fact when nobody knew that the meeting was even going to happen.

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

[Inaudible—Editor] witnesses. It wasn't any of the parties. It was me, as chair.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Is that okay? Is that what you are saying?

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

I'm just acknowledging that.

Do we have further discussion before we approve the budget?

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Normally, we approve the budget before the study begins. You said that you were the one who invited the witnesses. We received a notice and, an hour before the meeting, were informed of a witness's appearance. The expenditures totalled around $5,000.

Is the budget presented this morning only for the July meeting?

I'm also wondering if you are going to continue to invite witnesses without telling us about it.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

I have a point of order.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I'm just asking.

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

We have a point of order.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

I'm sorry. I don't know how to put this on English.

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

I'm actually doing the same thing, and I'm trying to get the most French that I can from him.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

The interpretation—

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

It's a point of order regarding translation. Are we familiar with how to switch the machines to English?

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

It's a touch screen. Push it at the top, where it....

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

I'm touching the square.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Do you want to sit here? I don't use translation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

Marc, can you continue in French for just a minute so I can see if it's working?

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I hope everybody had a good summer and enjoyed the lovely sunshine.

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

Perfect.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Is the interpretation working properly?

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

Marc, you can get back to your point.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I just want to understand one thing, Madam Chair.

Usually, witnesses are invited by all parties, a budget is submitted in advance, and it is approved by the committee. In this case, one of the witnesses was added to the list an hour before the meeting.

I note that the cost was quite high. I see that the expenses for the witness from London were reasonable. The expenses for the witness from Los Angeles are $3,500.

Madam Chair, you told us that you decided on the witnesses, and not the other parties. However, you have not submitted a budget to the committee for approval, which is unusual.

Is that something you intend to do again, or will the committee be inviting the witnesses?

I would like some clarification on that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

I think, moving forward, that it's best practice for me to communicate more efficiently with everyone, and I could pass it to the clerk, I guess, to handle if we need further discussion.

However, to answer your question, I agree. We could move forward in a different way.

Go ahead, Sonia.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

On the same point, I just want to share my frustration too, Madam Chair.

I've been on the FEWO committee for nine years. It's never happened that the other party didn't get a chance to submit names of witnesses. As a chair, your doing this is not fair to us. It never happened before. Please, next time, don't do this.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

That's duly noted. Thank you.

Go ahead, Lisa.