FEWO Committee Meeting
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Standing Committee on the Status of Women
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EVIDENCE
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]
[English]
Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.
I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions and cannot entertain points of order or participate in debate.
[Translation]
We can now proceed to the election of the Chair.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the Chair must be a member of the official opposition party.
I am ready to receive motions for the position of Chair.
Madam Clerk, since the former Chair of the committee did a good job, I would like to nominate Mrs. Vecchio for the position of Chair.
[English]
It has been moved by Mr. Serré that Ms. Vecchio be elected as chair of the committee. Are there any further motions? Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Clerk: I declare the motion carried and Ms. Vecchio duly elected as chair.
I would like to begin by saying welcome and thank you, everybody, for having the confidence in me in this 44th Parliament to lead you in the status of women committee. I am truly excited when I look at the faces around this table and recognize the diversity of opinions and the diversity of where we are from and what we can all bring to the table in such important discussions when we're talking about women and gender equality, so thank you, thank you, and thank you to all.
Stephanie, I don't believe you'll be here with us all of the time. I'm going to start. Does anyone know if we are supposed to introduce them, or is that in the motions?
Well, these are our friends. Dominique and Clare will also be working with us throughout the entire Parliament. I do believe that we have Stephanie for only one day, so let's make her work hard.
We're going to continue today's meeting with the election of vice-chairs. If the committee is in agreement, I invite the clerk to proceed with the election of the vice-chairs.
[Translation]
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the government party.
[English]
I am now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.
Go ahead, Madame Lambropoulos.
It has been moved by Madame Lambropoulos that Ms. Sidhu be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
I declare the motion carried and Ms. Sidhu duly elected as the first vice-chair.
[Translation]
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition party.
[English]
I am now prepared to receive motions for the second vice-chair.
[Translation]
Madam Clerk, I would like to nominate our colleague Andréanne Larouche for the position of second vice-chair.
Mr. Serré is nominating Ms. Andréanne Larouche for the position of second vice-chair.
Are there any further motions?
[English]
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
I declare the motion carried and Madame Larouche duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.
Welcome to meeting one of the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women.
They always make these lovely notes for me, but I usually do go off script. I'll start where I always start and say congratulations to the newly elected vice-chairs. I really look forward to working with both of you when we sit on subcommittee.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format pursuant to the House order of November 25, 2021. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely by using the Zoom application.
Regarding the speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do the best we can to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, whether participating virtually or in person. As noted, everybody is in person for this meeting today.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind all participants to this meeting that the taking of screenshots or photos of your screen is not permitted. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website.
Given the ongoing pandemic situation and in light of the recommendations from public health authorities as well as the directive of the Board of Internal Economy on October 19, 2021, to remain healthy and safe, the following are recommended for all of these meetings when attending in person: Anyone with symptoms should participate by Zoom and not attend the meeting in person; everyone must maintain two-metre physical distancing, whether seated or standing; everyone must wear a non-medical mask when they are circulating in the room.
It is recommended in the strongest possible terms that members wear their masks at all times, including when they are seated. Non-medical masks, which provide better clarity over cloth masks, are available in the room.
Everyone present must maintain proper hand hygiene by using the hand sanitizer at the room entrance. Committee rooms are cleaned before and after each meeting; to maintain this, everyone is encouraged to clean surfaces such as the desk, chair and microphone with the provided disinfectant wipes when vacating or taking their seat.
As the chair, I will be enforcing these measures for the duration of the meeting. I thank members in advance for their co-operation.
For everybody knowing that I'm a meanie-bo-beanie, you'd better keep your masks on, okay? I will remind all of the members' assistants as well, just to ensure that we are all on the same page.
I would now like to suggest that as the next order of business, the committee proceed to considering our routine motions. In preparation for this, the committee clerk has circulated a list of routine motions that the committee adopted in the last parliamentary session. The committee clerk can also answer any questions you may have about the routine motions.
Would you like to continue with the routine motions today? I'm looking at the time, recognizing that today is a very important day, with the fiscal update at 4 o'clock.
Does everybody have the same thought, that we should get this work done?
Okay. Let's get to business.
We need someone to move the motions.
Go ahead, Marc.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Do I read one paragraph at a time and then we vote, or do I read the whole page? What's the best process?
We have a choice. We can go through them one at a time or do them as a whole. I do need agreement on which way we want to go. It would have to be unanimous.
Would we like to go in order or do them as a block?
Go ahead, Leah.
Madam Chair, I'm okay with it, but there are a couple of motions I would like to propose amendments to.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I move as follows:
That the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.
[Translation]
For the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, I move:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five (5) members, the Chair, one member from each recognized party; and that the subcommittee work in a spirit of collaboration.
[English]
It reads:
That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence published when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including two members of the opposition parties and two members of the government party, but when travelling outside the Parliamentary Precinct, that the meeting begin after 15 minutes, regardless of members present.
Are there questions or comments? Are we all in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Continue, Mr. Serré.
[Translation]
For the time for opening remarks and the questioning of witness, the motion is worded as follows:
That witnesses be given five (5) minutes for their opening statement; that whenever possible, witnesses provide the committee with their opening statements 72 hours in advance; that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated six (6) minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows:
Round 1: Conservative Party
Liberal Party
Bloc Québécois
New Democratic Party
For the second and subsequent rounds, the order and time for questioning be as follows:
Conservative Party, five (5) minutes
Liberal Party, five (5) minutes
Bloc Quebecois, two and a half (2.5) minutes
New Democratic Party, two and a half (2.5) minutes
Conservative Party, five (5) minutes
Liberal Party, five (5) minutes.
[English]
Thanks, Madam Chair.
I'd like to propose an amendment, an addition that would read:
That each party represented on the committee be entitled to select one witness per two-hour witness panel.
The rationale for this amendment is that I think it's really important to listen to a diverse group of witnesses. I think it's vital to committee work, and specifically on this committee. I think it also reflects in the committee the proportional makeup of the House. I think it's important that we move to ensure each recognized party gets a quarter of the witnesses, which would ensure a more diverse group of witnesses. In looking around the table, I think that is really critical to this group.
In the last Parliament, this rotation was put in place through an opposition motion sponsored by Michelle Rempel Garner that instructed the health committee to study COVID-19. This worked very well and can be a model for other committees.
I'd like to put that on the table. Thank you.
It's been a few years since I was on this committee, but I do recall that we were very good at sometimes working on a consensus basis. Often in this area, the witnesses proposed by different parties are the same witnesses, so I don't want to constrict us in that kind of way. I think we've all worked very well collaboratively, and I think that if the worst comes to the worst, we have traditions in this place about how that is done. I certainly don't want us to be constrained by a motion when in fact we may all agree.
I want to honour that good faith suggestion, but I do think that there's a reason to have procedures and policies in committee. I would like to push it a little and still move the amendment that each party represented on the committee be entitled to select one witness per two-hour witness panel.
That's fair enough.
I'm going to give some background for anyone who hasn't been stuck with me as chair before. What I usually do and what I've done in the past is grant witnesses based on proportion. If we were at 25% each and you put in 25%, I always believe that it's up to those parties to put through those witnesses' names based on the number they've been allocated. I do not mess with those lists, because that is who you, as one of those members, wish to see.
In the past we have based it on the representation in the House of Commons. As I've said, I've always guaranteed that I would not mess around with your lists. I don't think that's the option of the chair, because I do believe that diversity of opinion is exactly what we need.
Is there any other discussion or are there concerns on this issue before we go forward?
Okay. Would everybody like to see the amendment? Shall we have a vote? Okay. We'll have a recorded vote.
(Amendment negatived: nays 8; yeas 2)
The Chair: The amendment has been defeated. Are there any other amendments?
We'll go to the main motion.
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Mr. Serré, continue.
[Translation]
Thank you, Madam Chair.
[English]
The motion relates to document distribution. It reads:
That only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee provided the documents are in both official languages, and that the witnesses be advised accordingly.
[Translation]
For working meals, I move:
That the clerk of the committee, at the discretion of the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
[English]
[Translation]
[Translation]
[English]
That's excellent.
Marc, can you just read that last motion so that we have it all on the record, please?
[Translation]
Okay. Here goes:
That the clerk of the committee, in consultation with the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
[English]
That's excellent. Are there any questions or comments?
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Please continue, Marc.
That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two representatives per organization, and that in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.
[Translation]
For access to in camera meetings, I move:
That, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to have one staff member at an in camera meeting and that one additional person from each House officer’s office be allowed to be present.
[English]
It's just to change it to the following:
That the committee may meet in camera only for the following purposes:
(a) to consider a draft report;
(b) to attend briefings concerning national security;
(c) to consider lists of witnesses;
(d) for any other reason, with the unanimous consent of the committee;
That all votes taken in camera, with the exception of votes regarding the consideration of draft reports, be recorded in the Minutes of Proceedings, including how each member voted when recorded votes are requested;
The rationale for this is that we've seen in previous Parliaments that the government has tried to move committee meetings in camera to force difficult issues and votes behind closed doors and to avoid public scrutiny.
I think the public has a right to know what we are doing in these meetings. Even in minority Parliaments in which the government could not act unilaterally, there were times when this was attempted, and as a consequence valuable committee time ended up being wasted in debating this. That's the second reason.
The third reason is that there's value in setting out parameters at the front end of routine motions that specify when in camera meetings can take place, so it's for the purposes of clarity. Otherwise, we may be in a situation where the work of the committee can be wasted in debating different attempts to have things put in camera. It's a big waste of time, so I'd like to put forward that amendment.
Thank you very much.
I'm going to make one note that was brought to me by the clerk, which is just to inform you that when it comes to this, anything that is done in camera remains confidential at all times. The voting record and how you voted would be the only thing that would be available.
Is there any further discussion?
I hear no further discussion.
May we have a recorded vote, please, Clerk?
It reads:
That the committee may meet in camera only for the following purposes:
(a) to consider a draft report;
(b) to attend briefings concerning national security;
(c) to consider lists of witnesses;
(d) for any other reason, with the unanimous consent of the committee;
That all votes taken in camera, with the exception of votes regarding the consideration of draft reports, be recorded in the Minutes of Proceedings, including how each member voted when recorded votes are requested;
That any motion to sit in camera is debatable and amendable.
We're going to do a recorded vote, if there are no questions or comments on that.
In the second portion, you added the line that reads, “That any motion to sit in camera is debatable and amendable.” That is actually out of order in procedure. The motion is out of order with that line specifically.
Go ahead, Leah.
Okay, we'll try it again. I move:
That the committee may meet in camera only for the following purposes:
(a) to consider a draft report;
(b) to attend briefings concerning national security;
(c) to consider lists of witnesses;
(d) for any other reason, with the unanimous consent of the committee;
That all votes taken in camera, with the exception of votes regarding the consideration of draft reports, be recorded in the Minutes of Proceedings, including how each member voted when recorded votes are requested.
Thank you very much. We'll go on to our recorded vote.
(Amendment negatived: nays 9; yeas 1)
The Chair: Are we agreed on the main motion?
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Carry on, Marc.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Regarding transcripts, I move:
That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk's office for consultation by members of the committee or by their staff; and that the analysts assigned to the committee also have access to the in camera transcripts.
Are there any questions or comments on this motion?
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: I believe we turn to the back of the page.
[Translation]
The next routine motion deals with notices of motion.
That 48 hours' notice, interpreted as two nights, shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that (1) the notice be filed with the clerk of the committee no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday, that (2) the motion be distributed to members in both official languages by the clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour, and that (3) notices received after the deadline hour or on nonbusiness days be deemed to have been received during the next business day and that when the committee is travelling on official business, no substantive motions may be moved.
[English]
Thank you very much.
Are there any questions or comments on that motion?
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Please continue, Marc.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I move:
That, in relation to orders of reference from the House respecting Bills,
(a) The clerk of the committee shall, upon the committee receiving such an order of reference, write to each member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee to invite those members to file with the clerk of the committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the committee consider;
(b) Suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given bill; and
(c) During the clause-by-clause consideration of a bill, the Chair shall allow a member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.
Are there any questions or comments on the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: We'll go on to the next motion, Marc.
[Translation]
For technical tests for witnesses, I move:
That the clerk inform each witness who is to appear before the committee that the House administration support team must conduct technical tests to check the connectivity and the equipment used to ensure the best possible sound quality; and that the Chair advise the committee, at the start of each meeting, of any witness who did not perform the required technical tests.
[English]
Are there any questions or comments on this motion?
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Finally, Marc, go ahead.
This is the last one on the page, Madam Chair. I move:
That all documents submitted for committee business that do not come from a federal department, members' offices, or that have not been translated by the Translation Bureau be sent for prior linguistic review by the Translation Bureau before being distributed to members.
Are there any questions or comments?
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Fantastic. After considering all the routine motions, does the committee wish to discuss any future business at this time?
[Translation]
Ms. Larouche, you have the floor.
Madam Chair, I would like to submit three notices of motion. They have been translated and I can read them, so that they can one day become studies for the committee. I will do so quickly because everyone seems to be in a hurry to leave. I move:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on—
[Translation]
[English]
[Translation]
We will have the translation into English emailed to committee members. But, while we wait, I can read them in French and English right here before we leave, so that notice of the motions has been submitted.
[English]
I wanted to let you know that I also have two motions to present for consideration. I've translated them and have enough for everybody around the table.
[Translation]
Madam Chair, I also had them for translation and for distribution around the table. So I would like to have the floor so that I can read my motions.
[English]
[Translation]
[English]
I just wanted to verify it because, as we know, it is as the committee wishes for motions to be read.
Andréanne, I would be happy for you to be able to read those in today, but I also want to take into consideration the debate and the fact that the fiscal update is coming at four o'clock.
I'm just going to look at everybody and say that I don't know if your motions are long, but what we can do today is read them into the record so that they have been read into the record. We can also take the opportunity for Emmanuella to do that. After that, we would allow the debate at our next business meeting. We would discuss it then and not make a decision today on how we proceed.
Is that okay with you, Andréanne?
[Translation]
[English]
That's perfection.
Today what we'll do is put the notice of motions. I will allow Andréanne to put hers forward, followed by Emmanuella, and those will be read into the record. Following that, there will be no debate. We will open the debate at our next meeting.
Go ahead, Andréanne. You have the floor.
[Translation]
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. My thanks also to the members of the committee. I will read the motions quickly, so that you can attend the important economic update. However, our motions are also important.
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on the various legislative experiences of states and countries that have created legislation to criminalize coercive and manipulative behaviour and on any other public policy tools and measures to address psychological and family violence.
That the Committee dedicate at least five (5) meetings to this issue and report its findings and recommendations to the House.
Here is the text of the second motion:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on how women’s participation in politics is affected by the political party funding model.
That the Committee dedicate at least four (4) meetings to this issue and report its findings and recommendations to the House.
Here is the text of the final motion I am introducing today:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on honour crimes as a type of family violence to better understand the violence perpetrated by family members against girls and women while following traditional codes of honour; and that the study include:
a) the phenomenon of honour crimes;
b) the federal legislation that prevents or limits this type of violence;
and c) best practices for preventing this violence and protecting vulnerable people from it.
That the Committee dedicate at least five (5) meetings to this issue and report its findings and recommendations to the House.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I hope I will have the opportunity to debate with you at an upcoming meeting of the committee, when we come back from the holidays.
[English]
Thank you.
The first motion is as follows:
That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study examining the factors contributing to mental health issues experienced by young women and girls, including but not limited to eating disorders, addiction, depression, anxiety and suicide; that the committee provide attention to the impact of online harms and issues regarding self-esteem in young women and girls; that the committee hear from witnesses and departmental officials for no fewer than six meetings; that the committee consider ways in which the Government of Canada can continue to strengthen mental health supports for young women and girls and report its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a response thereto.
[Translation]
Madam Chair, the interpreters do not have the text of the motions at hand and they seem to be saying that Ms. Lambropoulos is speaking too quickly.
[English]
We'll get the motion to them. That's not a problem.
Thank you very much, Andréanne, for informing us.
Emmanuella, you have the same disease I have. We speak too fast. Our brain is going—
I was just trying to get us to the fall economic statement a little bit quicker, but I'll take my time.
[Translation]
[English]
My motion reads as follows:
That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study examining the factors contributing to mental health issues experienced by young women and girls, including but not limited to eating disorders, addiction, depression, anxiety and suicide; that the committee provide attention to the impact of online harms and issues regarding self-esteem in young women and girls; that the committee hear from witnesses and departmental officials for no less than six meetings; that the committee consider ways in which the Government of Canada can continue to strengthen mental health supports for young women and girls and report its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a response thereto.
[Translation]
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), with consideration to the increasing number of femicides in Canada, the committee undertake a study examining the root causes of intimate partner and domestic violence; that the committee examine current support and protection infrastructures for women and girls subject to unsafe environments; that the committee consider additional ways in which the Government of Canada can contribute to the prevention of intimate partner violence and the protection of women and children fleeing violence; that the committee hear from witnesses for no less than 10 meetings and hear from officials; that the committee report its findings to the house; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Government table a response in the house thereto.
[English]
Madam Chair, if there other motions, they should be brought to the subcommittee. Maybe later on you could—
As everybody knows, we now have other opportunities as well. You can submit your motions directly to the clerk using e-notices. There are many opportunities for us to do that. The motions we heard today are really exciting, and they are going to set a great foundation as we move forward on these studies.
Since we are not going to be debating at this time, I'd like to adjourn this meeting so that we can carry on, and then we'll reconvene these discussions at our next meeting.
The meeting is adjourned.
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