By Canadian Press

Minister for women won’t comment on committee drama as Liberal MP defends actions

Aug 8, 2024 | 2:09 PM

OTTAWA — The federal minister for women won’t comment after a House of Commons committee that was supposed to discuss violence against women last week instead dissolved into political chaos.

Witnesses Megan Walker and Cait Alexander, who walked out of the meeting, wrote to federal party leaders this week to decry MPs’ behaviour and demand concrete action on the issue.

They directed ire at Liberal MP Anita Vandenbeld, who instigated a procedural fight at the committee by moving a motion to resume debate on abortion rights rather than engaging on domestic violence.

Vandenbeld said in an opinion article posted this week that she was responding to procedural antics by the Conservatives, whom she accused of “hijacking” the committee process for their own political aims.

She said she believed “traps” were being set by far-right politicians and insisted her actions were about defending the parliamentary process, but apologized for playing a role in adding to witnesses’ trauma.

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The minister who oversees the government’s gender policy, Marci Ien, has been silent on the incident, saying in a statement that committees are independent and her party stands up against violence.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 8, 2024.

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press

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