FEWO Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 28

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

The Standing Committee on the Status of Women met at 8:29 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chair, Yasmin Ratansi, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Sylvie Boucher, Patricia Davidson, Nicole Demers, Johanne Deschamps, Nina Grewal, Irene Mathyssen, Hon. Maria Minna, Hon. Anita Neville, Glen Douglas Pearson, Yasmin Ratansi and Bruce Stanton.

Associate Members present: Luc Harvey.

Senators present: Hon. Nancy Ruth, Senator

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Shahrzad Mobasher Fard, Analyst ; Clara Morgan, Analyst ; Karine Richer, Analyst.

Witnesses: Department of Finance: Robert Wright, Deputy Minister; Louise Levonian, General Director, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister's Office, Tax Policy Branch; Mireille Éthier, Senior Chief, Federal-Provincial Taxation Section. Queen's University: Kathleen Lahey, Professor, Institute of Women's Studies. Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action: Nancy Peckford, Director of Programmes. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: Armine Yalnizyan, Senior Economist.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on November 21, 2007, the Committee resumed its study on Gender Budgets.

Robert Wright made a statement and, with Louise Levonian, answered questions.

At 9:24 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 9:25 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Kathleen Lahey, Armine Yalnizyan and Nancy Peckford made statements and answered questions.

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

At 10:16 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:16 a.m., the sitting resumed.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended, of Maria Minna, — That the government appoint an independent commissioner for gender budgeting analysis immediately to conduct a gender based analysis of governmental policies, including budget policies, and that the Chair report the adoption of this motion to the House without delay.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 4.

Irene Mathyssen moved, — That the Auditor General conduct an audit to review Canada’s implementation of gender-based analysis using "Setting the Stage for the Next Century: The Federal Plan for Gender Equality (1995)" as a guide, and report the adoption of this motion to the House of Commons without delay.

Patricia Davidson moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “General” the following: “, taking into account all of the elements of Canada’s framework for equality including the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women and Optional Protocol and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom,” and by adding after the word “guide,” the following: “and review the last 7 years,”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Patricia Davidson and it was agreed to.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended, of Irene Mathyssen, — That the Auditor General, taking into account all of the elements of Canada’s framework for equality including the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women and Optional Protocol and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, conduct an audit to review Canada’s implementation of gender-based analysis using “Setting the Stage for the Next Century: The Federal Plan for Gender Equality (1995)” as a guide, and review the last 7 years, and report the adoption of this motion to the House of Commons without delay.

The debate continued.

It was agreed, — That consideration of the motion be postponed until the next Committee meeting.

At 10:32 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Erica Pereira
Committee Clerk

2008/06/02 12:51 p.m.