FEWO Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on the Status of Women met at 11:00 a.m. this day, in Room C-120, 1 Wellington Street, the Vice-Chair, Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, presiding.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Anita Neville, — That the Committee recommend that the government conduct a gender audit of all federal funding of sport, including Sport Canada funding programs, funding of infrastructure projects by Infrastructure Canada, as well as contributions to international athletic competitions hosted in Canada, to ensure that funding is being distributed on an equitable basis;

That the conclusions of this audit be made publicly available and tabled in the House of Commons; and

That this motion be reported to the House.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “gender audit” with the words “gender-based analysis” and by replacing the words “conclusions of this audit” with the words “conclusions of this analysis”.

Sylvie Boucher moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “funding of infrastructure projects by Infrastructure Canada” with the words “and that the Committee invite representatives of the Department and the Minister of State (Sport) to discuss funding projects”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Sylvie Boucher and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 6.

Michelle Simson moved, — That the motion be amended by adding before the words “infrastructure projects” the word “sport” and by adding after the word “Commons” the following: “That the appropriate Ministers be invited to appear before the Committee on this matter; and”.

The question was put on the amendment of Michelle Simson and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 10; NAYS: 0.

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 recommend that the government conduct a gender-based analysis of all federal funding of sport, including Sport Canada funding programs, funding of sport infrastructure projects by Infrastructure Canada, as well as contributions to international athletic competitions hosted in Canada, to ensure that funding is being distributed on an equitable basis;

That the conclusions of this analysis be made publicly available and tabled in the House of Commons;

That the appropriate Ministers be invited to appear before the Committee on this matter; and

That this motion be reported to the House.

On motion of Sylvie Boucher, it was agreed, — That the Committee start with the consideration of the motion from Nicole Demers, for which notice was given on Friday, March 4, 2011, before commencing consideration of the motion from Anita Neville, for which notice was given on Wednesday, February 23, 2011.

Nicole Demers moved, — That the Committee ask every federal Minister to inform it, before Monday, April 4, 2011, of the status of implementation of the gender-responsive analysis in his or her department.

Debate arose thereon.

Lise Zarac moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “responsive” with the word “based”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Lise Zarac and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 0.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Committee ask every federal Minister to inform it, before Monday, April 4, 2011, of the status of implementation of the gender-based analysis in his or her department.

Lise Zarac moved, — That the Committee recommend that the government conduct a gender-based analysis of all legislation introduced by the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Public Safety before it is introduced to Parliament, and that this analysis be presented in the House of Commons after the introduction and first reading of each bill; and

That this motion be reported to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

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

At 12:16 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:20 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

The Committee commenced consideration of a draft report.

At 12:58 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.