Debates of May 16th, 2007

Canadian Heritage--Main Estimates, 2007-08

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. member for London—Fanshawe, this is the third time.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Chair, it is very, very difficult. It is very difficult when the answers are not forthcoming, so I shall repeat.

With whom did the minister consult in making the decision to cut programs and change the mandate of Status of Women?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, I met with women's organizations. I held round tables. I met with women who represent the francophone community and the anglophone community. I met with women right across the country and I also received input from my colleagues who speak to their--

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. minister, the hon. member for London—Fanshawe has the floor and no one else.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Chair, perhaps I will indeed be the minister next time.

According to former regional staff reps and women's organizations, there was no consultation, but I would like to continue. Where is the balance between policy research and program delivery?

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. Minister of Canadian Heritage has the floor and no one else.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, I cannot refrain from saying that the possibility of that member or her party forming government is very slim and very dim.

Let me say that we have received the information from the research done. That is why we have been able to meet and identify the two major issues facing women today. The challenges they face--

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. member for London—Fanshawe.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would like to know this. Was the decision to shut regional offices and change the mandate the minister's and the minister's alone?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, it was after consultation, after asking the Status of Women staff and their management group, and after consulting with my colleagues and receiving input from cabinet that this government made the--

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. member for London—Fanshawe.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Chair, women's group after women's group, individual after individual, has come to the committee on the Status of Women and indicated that there was no consultation, no analysis of the effects of these closures, and no analysis of the change to the mandate. That is simply not accountable. The government promised accountability. Why is the minister playing politics with women's equality?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, in our consultations and in our consideration of the changes to Status of Women, we decided deliberately not to play politics with women. That is why we are not just addressing organizations and friends of the Liberals, the political partisan views, et cetera. We have listened to everyone.

In fact, there were organizations which under the previous government were never invited to provide input to the government on its women's policies.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Chair, it would have been nice at this time if women had been invited. I would like to know why the pay equity task force report that said that the complaints-based system does not work and that the measures that the government is currently using have been--

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage is rising on a point of order.

[Jim Abbott, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Chair, again, as I did with my friend from Fredericton, who is an experienced member and this member is not; nonetheless, I believe the Chair would want the member to be asking questions that are relevant to the minister's budget.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Chair, this is my time and my opportunity to ask questions. I determine what is relevant and what is not.

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. member for London—Fanshawe has the floor and I just want to reassure her that the time used by the point of order will not be counted against her.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Chair, the Pay Equity Task Force reported that the complaints-based system does not work. The measures that the government is currently using have been discredited.

Does the minister believe that women deserve equal pay for work of equal value?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, as the member knows, pay equity is under the responsibility of the Minister of Labour.

However, let me assure the House that we support him in his work. He has now added 100 new inspectors to ensure that the current pay equity laws are being enforced and implemented.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Chair, it has been thoroughly discredited. I wonder if the minister would then bring forward proactive pay equity legislation.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, as I indicated earlier, the government believes that when we have a law, we enforce the law, and we implement the law. That is our first order of responsibility. That is what we are doing.

I do not understand members opposite when they say that we can have as many laws as we want, but it does not matter if they are implemented or how they are enforced.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would like to know if the minister's department submitted Canada's response to the UN's CEDAW recommendations. If not, why not? They were due in February. When can we expect a response?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, the government responds in a fashion that meets its requirements. Together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, we are responding to every UN report that we are obligated--

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The hon. the member for London—Fanshawe should know there are 40 seconds left for both the question and the answer.