Evidence of meeting #20 for Status of Women in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
Yes. I think it's really important that we do that. We can come up with a resolution. Can you get Conor on this, Pam? I know we work a lot with Conor. I'm looking at Scott over here. Just to everybody—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
I'm just looking around and thinking that I like it's when it's old staff day.
Andréanne, we're still on this discussion here, but I would really like our committee to perhaps do that.
Pam, I'm going to go to Andréanne.
Is it on the same subject, or is it different?
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Actually, I have a concern. My understanding is that we could do a separate report on things that were not included in the bill, but that reflect some of the things we've heard from witnesses. Is that right?
In order to do that, we'd have to have time to look at the recommendations in terms of judicial training, but I don't see how we can do that by three o'clock today.
So should we schedule a meeting just to discuss a report that would accompany the bill? What would be the next steps?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
I do really appreciate that.
I'm going to pass this over to the clerk for a second, and then I'll let you know where we're at. You're absolutely right. Every minute in this committee really counts right now, so let me pass it to the clerk.
Legislative Clerk
The committee could adopt a motion pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), in which the committee would make recommendations and pass the committee report back to the House. It would just consist of any other motions. It would need to be put on notice 48 hours in advance, unless there is a committee business meeting where motions don't need to be put on notice if they are related to matters being discussed in the committee business portion of the next meeting. It could be something that could be presented and moved at the next committee business meeting, and then the committee could debate it and vote on it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
Another question for you is about when we report back to the House. I do not believe there is any dissenting report. There is nothing. Is that correct, Philippe?
When I'm reporting back to the House, I wouldn't have a member from any other party; it would just be me as the chair. Is that correct?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
I was just going to ask if there is way that we could work that out.
Go ahead, Pam.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
I have a question, Chair.
I think there are two issues the committee would be concerned with. One is self-service, which was Leah's amendment that we didn't include. Also, I know there's tremendous disappointment that the amendment about the undertaking for judges wasn't included, so I think those are the two issues.
I think maybe the clerk could clarify it, but, if the motion has to do with what we're discussing today, I don't think we need 48 hours' notice if we want to do it today. I have some draft wording. That way Karen could present it at the same time as the bill rather than waiting. If members would prefer to wait, that's fine.
I know there's a lot of disappointment around the one amendment being ruled out of order, which I know the chair had no choice but do. There are also the grave concerns we have about self-service in the e-monitoring.
Is that possible? Would members want to entertain that?
Conservative
Legislative Clerk
If the motion is moved today, debated and adopted today, there is nothing stopping the chair from reporting back to the House. She could table two reports, one report after the other.
Conservative
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
I had not raised my hand, but I certainly have a concern. As Ms. Damoff said, one amendment was rejected, but we can add recommendations. However, we will need more time to do it properly.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
Yes, absolutely.
So, there are no recommendations that would be added to this bill that we're discussing. It would just be comments or resolutions and working out some of those things. I absolutely understand where you're coming from. I think we do have to have a broader discussion on this. It's just not something we can do in five minutes.
Leah, I'm going to pass it to you.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Thank you, Chair. I do support moving a motion today for a couple of reasons.
One is out of respect for Jennifer Kagan, who put forward an amendment that fell outside.... I think we owe that to the sacrifice that she and her family made. I think that's critical.
The other thing is—and I'm saying this because I want it on record—that lots of these programs that come about, including e-bracelets, don't impact a population that's been identified with the highest rates of violence, indigenous women and girls, many of whom will not benefit from this program. I just want to be on the record saying that.
I think having that in a motion and making sure that the motion gets out today is really critical, and in honour of the crisis of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls as well.
Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
I'm going to take the opportunity to take the time as well.
I would like to suggest to the community that we suspend and take about a seven-minute break. That would give time for Pam to work with us to get things written and time for me to go down the hall.
We'll suspend.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
Andréanne has received a translation. It's tight, but it's not from the interpretation centre, so I'm going to ask Pam to read it into the record, so that Andréanne can hear the interpretation, and then we'll allow it to go to debate.
The most important thing right now—and I say it from all the of these committee members—is that we all want this, so let's get this stuff going.
When Pam is ready, I will pass the floor to her and we will have this read into the record.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
Sorry, Madam Chair, there is a part to put at the beginning that is exactly the same as what we used previously. I don't have that written down.
I move:
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee has considered Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner), and wishes to make the following recommendations to the government:
The recommendations would be:
That the committee considered issues and consequences around the availability of cell service in the use of e-monitoring and recommends the Government of Canada move as soon as possible to ensure access to cell service is available across Canada, and that the committee feels strongly and recommends that when developing training for new judges, that issues of intimate partner violence, coercive control in intimate partner and family relationships, and social context be included.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
Is there any discussion on that resolution?
Taking the chair's prerogative, thank you, Pam. I think these are extraordinary and very important to this.
Thank you for working with Leah to ensure that this discussion is brought in as well. Although we know there's some provincial jurisdiction, we do know that the federal government needs to work on that.
Is there any further discussion?
How about we do a recorded vote to make sure everything's in line?
(Motion agreed to: yeas 10; nays 0)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
I'm sorry, Mike.
I am proud to be able to report this back with the bill in that report.
Seeing no other business on the schedule today, I would like to adjourn this meeting.
Emmanuella?
