FEWO Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on the Status of Women met at 3:30 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, the Hon. Hedy Fry, presiding.

The Ministers made statements and, with Margaret Biggs, answered questions.

At 4:39 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:42 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Anita Neville moved, — That Committee request a report from the Minister of Industry outlining: (a) departmental policies and targets concerning the recruitment and appointment of under-represented groups, specifically women, to the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC); (b) whether the negotiated agreement reached in 2006 on gender representation in the awarding of Canada Research Chairs was considered during the creation of CERC; and (c) the mandate and findings of the department’s internal investigation of the 2010 CERC selection process, as referred to by the Minister of Industry on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 in the Toronto Star; and that this report be received by the Committee by Wednesday, June 9, 2010.

The question was put on the motion and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: Nicole Demers, Johanne Deschamps, Irene Mathyssen, Anita Neville, Michelle Simson — 5; NAYS: Sylvie Boucher, Lois Brown, Paul Calandra, Cathy McLeod, Alice Wong — 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the affirmative.

Accordingly, the motion was agreed to.

Sylvie Boucher moved, — That the Committee undertake a study to examine work that is being done in Afghanistan to improve the living conditions of all women and children in that country, focusing on Canada’s role in that work, and report on it to Parliament;

That the study, which has the support of the Minister for Status of Women, the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister for International Cooperation, include inviting witnesses from the departments and groups involved in that work to appear before the Committee; and

That the study take into consideration the historical situation for women in Afghanistan under the Taliban; the work being done by Canada in Afghanistan, the complementary work being done by NGOs and others in Afghanistan and the successes and setbacks as well as the lessons learned.

On motion of Anita Neville, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “groups involved in that work” the following: “and other witnesses”.

On motion of Irene Mathyssen, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “learned” the following: “That the Committee travel to Afghanistan”.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 10; NAYS: 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Committee undertake a study to examine work that is being done in Afghanistan to improve the living conditions of all women and children in that country, focusing on Canada’s role in that work, and report on it to Parliament;

That the study, which has the support of the Minister for Status of Women, the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister for International Cooperation, include inviting witnesses from the departments and groups involved in that work and other witnesses to appear before the Committee;

That the study take into consideration the historical situation for women in Afghanistan under the Taliban; the work being done by Canada in Afghanistan, the complementary work being done by NGOs and others in Afghanistan and the successes and setbacks as well as the lessons learned; and

That the Committee travel to Afghanistan.

On motion of Anita Neville, it was agreed, — That, in relation to the study of violence against aboriginal women, the proposed budget in the amount of $38,400 be adopted.

At 5:26 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.