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FEWO Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
 
Meeting No. 12
 
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
 

The Standing Committee on the Status of Women met at 11:07 a.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, Hedy Fry, presiding.

 

Members of the Committee present: Sylvie Boucher, Patricia Davidson, Nicole Demers, Johanne Deschamps, Hon. Hedy Fry, Candice Hoeppner, Irene Mathyssen, Cathy McLeod, Hon. Anita Neville, Tilly O'Neill-Gordon and Lise Zarac.

 

Acting Members present: Rob Clarke for Sylvie Boucher and Nina Grewal for Cathy McLeod.

 

In attendance: House of Commons: Catherine Millar, Committee Clerk. Library of Parliament: Clara Morgan, Analyst.

 

Witnesses: Antigonish Women's Resource Centre: Lucille Harper, Executive Director. Canadian Cancer Society: Denise Page, Health Policy Analyst. Community Unemployed Help Centre: Neil Cohen, Executive Director. Council of Canadians with Disabilities: Marie White, National Chairperson. Nova Scotia Centre on Aging: Pamela Fancey, Associate Director. As an individual: Verna Heinrichs.

 
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, the Committee resumed its study of the consequences and effects the current Employment Insurance (EI) programs have on Women in Canada.
 

Lucille Harper, Denise Page, Neil Cohen, Marie White, Pamela Fancey and Verna Heinrichs made statements and answered questions.

 

At 12:34 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:36 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

 

At 12:36 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:37 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.

 
The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.
 

Irene Mathyssen moved, — That the Standing Committee on the Status of Women immediately hold four extra meetings to examine the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act and invite Minister Vic Toews, the Public Sector Labour Relations Board, Public Service Alliance of Canada, Professional Institute of the Public Sector of Canada, Communications Energy and Paperworkers, Canadian Labour Congress and Marie-Thérèse Chicha, Pay Equity Task Force Member and any other witnesses that the Committee agrees upon.

 

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by deleting the word “immediately”.

 

Candice Hoeppner moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “four extra meetings” with the words “one meeting” and the words “Minister Vic Toews [...] committee agrees upon” with the words “Treasury Board officials”.

 

The question was put on the amendment and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the amendment was negatived.

 

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the affirmative.

Accordingly, the motion was agreed to.

 

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Standing Committee on the Status of Women hold four extra meetings to examine the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act and invite Minister Vic Toews, the Public Sector Labour Relations Board, Public Service Alliance of Canada, Professional Institute of the Public Sector of Canada, Communications Energy and Paperworkers, Canadian Labour Congress and Marie-Thérèse Chicha, Pay Equity Task Force Member and any other witnesses that the Committee agrees upon.

 

Nicole Demers moved, — That the Standing Committee on the Status of Women call upon the government to condemn the excommunication, approved by the Vatican, of the nine-year-old Brazilian girl who had to undergo an abortion after being raped by her stepfather; that the government also condemn the excommunication of the little girl’s mother and of the medical team who carried out the abortion and that the Committee report this motion to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

 

It was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned and that consideration of the motion be postponed until April 2, 2009.

 

At 1:05 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

 



Jacques Maziade
Clerk of the Committee

 
 
2009/04/22 2:41 p.m.