FEWO Committee Meeting
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Minutes of Proceedings
Sven Spengemann made a statement and answered questions.
The Committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.
Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of Preamble and Clause 1, Short Title, was postponed.
The Chair called Clause 2.
On Clause 2,
Marc Serré moved, — That Bill C-309, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing lines 17 and 18 on page 3 with the following:2 Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the fourth week in September is to be known as “Gender Equality
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Marc Serré and it was agreed to.
“Action Week”.”
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Sheila Malcolmson and it was negatived.
Clause 2, as amended, carried.
On new Clause 3,
Sheila Malcolmson moved, — That Bill C-309 be amended by adding after line 19 on page 3 the following new clause:“INDEPENDENT ACTION REVIEW
3 (1) The Minister of Canadian Heritage must, no later than 180 days after the day on which this Act comes into force, initiate one or more independent reviews regarding issues and actions taken that are related to implementing proactive pay equity legislation and gender-based analysis legislation.
(2) The Minister of Heritage must, no later than two years after the day on which a review is initiated, cause one or more reports on the review, including any findings or recommendations resulting from it, to be laid before each House of Parliament.”
The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was beyond the scope of the Bill, as provided on page 766 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Second Edition.
“CONFERENCE AND REPORT
3 (1) Each year, during Gender Equality Action Week, the Minister of Canadian Heritage must hold a conference with provincial representatives and stakeholders in the field of gender equality to review issues and actions taken that are related to achieving proactive pay equity and promoting gender-based analysis legislation.
(2) The Minister of Heritage must, no later than 180 days after the day on which the conference is held each year, cause one or more reports on the conference, including any findings or recommendations resulting from it, to be laid before each House of Parliament.”
The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was beyond the scope of the Bill, as provided on page 766 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Second Edition.
The Chair ruled that the following amendment was consequential to a previous amendment and therefore it was also negatived:
That Bill C-309, in the short title, be amended by replacing line 15 on page 3 with the following:“1 This Act may be cited as the Gender Equality Action Week”
Clause 1, Short Title, carried by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 2.
On Preamble,
Sheila Malcolmson moved, — That Bill C-309, in the preamble, be amended by adding after line 10 on page 1 the following:“Whereas the Parliament of Canada reiterates that women’s rights are fundamental human rights;
Whereas Canadians are committed to safe as well as reliable sexual and reproductive health care and to access to safe abortion;
Whereas Canada is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, adopted in the United Nations General Assembly in 1979, and the Government of Canada reiterates its commitment to implement all recommendations of the Convention;
Whereas the Government of Canada reiterates its commitment to implement the recommendations of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted on September 15, 1995, at the Fourth World Conference on Women;
Whereas Canada is a signatory to the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, adopted in the United Nations General Assembly on December 20, 1993, and supports the 2016 Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Report;
Whereas the Parliament of Canada recognizes that the principles set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and in particular those in Articles 21 and 22, should be enshrined in the laws of Canada;
Whereas Canada has long recognized the importance of women’s rights, and long sought to address status issues, including those addressed by the Royal Commission on the Status of Women, established in 1967;”
RULING OF THE CHAIR
The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because the amendment seeks to make a substantive modification by adding new elements to the preamble.
As House of Commons Procedure and Practice, second edition, states on page 770:
“In the case of a bill that has been referred to committee after second reading, a substantive amendment to the preamble is admissible only if it is rendered necessary by amendments made to the bill. In addition, an amendment to the preamble is in order when its purpose is to clarify it or to ensure uniformity of the English and French versions.”
In the opinion of the Chair, the proposed amendment is substantive and is therefore inadmissible.
Karen Vecchio moved, — That Bill C-309, in the preamble, be amended
(a) by replacing lines 26 and 27 on page 1 with the following:
“families to affordable housing, social support and child care, as well as by gaps in”
(b) by replacing line 7 on page 2 with the following:
“cial support;”
(c) by replacing lines 8 and 9 on page 2 with the following:
“Whereas Canadian women face barriers in pursu-”
RULING OF THE CHAIR
The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because the amendment seeks to make a substantive modification by adding new elements to the preamble.
As House of Commons Procedure and Practice, second edition, states on page 770:
“In the case of a bill that has been referred to committee after second reading, a substantive amendment to the preamble is admissible only if it is rendered necessary by amendments made to the bill. In addition, an amendment to the preamble is in order when its purpose is to clarify it or to ensure uniformity of the English and French versions.”
In the opinion of the Chair, the proposed amendment is substantive and is therefore inadmissible.
The Chair ruled that the following amendment was consequential to a previous amendment and therefore it was also adopted:
That Bill C-309, in the preamble, be amended by replacing line 1 on page 3 with the following:“Canadians to recognize the fourth week in September as”
The Title carried.
The Bill, as amended, carried.
ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House.
ORDERED, — That Bill C-309, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House at report stage.
At 9:39 a.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 9:52 a.m., the sitting resumed in camera.
The Committee resumed consideration of a draft report
It was agreed, — That dissenting and/or supplementary opinions be in Arial 12 point font, single line spacing, justified alignment and be submitted electronically, in both official languages, to the Clerk of the Committee, no later than 4:00 p. m. on Thursday, March 16, 2017.
At 10:27 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.