FEWO Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on the Status of Women met at 3:45 p.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Vice-Chair, Joy Smith, presiding.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

At 5:04 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:06 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The Committee resumed the consideration of the motion moved by Irene Mathyssen, as follows:

That the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women recommend that the Government publish all outstanding research projects from Status of Women Canada’s Independent Policy Research Fund and that the Chair report the adoption of this motion to the House forthwith.

Maria Minna moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing all the words following the word “publish” with the following:

“the three research reports funded through the Status of Women Canada’s Independent Policy Research Fund, as follows:

Monica Townson and Kevin Hayes, Women and Employment Insurance Program: the Gender Impact on Current Rules on Eligibility and Earnings Replacement;

Shelagh Day and Gwen Brodsky, Women and the CST: Securing the Social Union;

Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, Integrating Marginalized Women's Voices into Policy Discussions and Debates Linked to the CST;

and that the Chair report the adoption of this motion to the House forthwith”.

Bruce Stanton moved, — That the amendement be amended by deleting the words “Monica Townson and Kevin Hayes, Women and Employment Insurance Program: the Gender Impact on Current Rules on Eligibility and Earnings Replacement; Shelagh Day and Gwen Brodsky, Women and the CST: Securing the Social Union;”.

The question was put on the subamendment of Bruce Stanton and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Patricia Davidson, Rick Dykstra, Nina Grewal, Bruce Stanton — 4; NAYS: Irwin Cotler, Jean Crowder, Nicole Demers, Johanne Deschamps, Hedy Fry, Maria Minna, Anita Neville — 7.

The question was put on the amendment of Maria Minna and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Irwin Cotler, Jean Crowder, Nicole Demers, Johanne Deschamps, Hedy Fry, Maria Minna, Anita Neville — 7; NAYS: Patricia Davidson, Rick Dykstra, Nina Grewal, Bruce Stanton — 4.

The motion, as amended, was adopted.

It was agreed, — That the Committee append to its report a dissenting opinion from the Conservative Party, provided that it is submitted electronically to the Clerk of the Committee, within forty-eight (48) hours.

Nicole Demers moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on the Status of Women recommend to the government that it restore the Court Challenges Program, and that adoption of this motion be reported to the House as soon as possible.

Debate arose thereon.

Hedy Fry moved, — That debate continue for ten minutes and that the vote be called at 5:45 p.m..

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Irwin Cotler, Jean Crowder, Nicole Demers, Johanne Deschamps, Hedy Fry, Maria Minna, Anita Neville — 7; NAYS: Patricia Davidson, Rick Dykstra, Nina Grewal, Bruce Stanton — 4.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

It was agreed, — That the Committee append to its report a dissenting opinion from the Conservative Party provided that it is submitted electronically to the Clerk of the Committee, within forty-eight (48) hours.

It was agreed, — That copies of the draft report on the study of the Potential Impact of Recent Funding and Program Changes at Status of Women Canada be distributed to the member's offices on Monday April 16, 2007.

At 5:47 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.