Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 7th, 2007

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

I just have a point to make about--

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Quickly, if you can, please.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Okay.

I think it's a fair motion as amended.

I, myself, have been part of the Law Society of Saskatchewan. Bodies that self-govern do set professional standards to deal with issues of discipline, ethics, professional training--those kinds of things that obviously have had some sore spots in the consultant's area of operation.

I think it's well worth doing a study on that. I would be in support of that motion, and I guess we will, as a group--

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

We'll vote on this amendment first.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Chair, could I make a friendly suggestion to Mr. Siksay?

If we were to drop the words “immigration consultants who work independent of CSIC”, that opens it up for us to bring in immigration consultants who could be critical of the work the body is doing or immigration consultants who are friendly. That way we don't skew it, and we don't get people's backs up.

Okay, Bill?

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

That's fine.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

He agrees. Okay, good.

We are voting on the amendment.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

If I can, Mr. Chair, we're dropping the words “immigration consultants who work independent of CSIC”.

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

No. Let's drop the words, “who work independent of CSIC”, so it reads that we're inviting “members of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC), immigration consultants and individuals who have used the services of immigration consultants”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Do we need any further discussion on this now, Madame Faille?

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

I also want to call a point of order after.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Let's vote on the amendment.

It will read:

That the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration study the issue of immigration consultants, that the committee invite members of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) who work independent of CSIC--

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

No. You're dropping the words “who work independent of CSIC”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Okay. We're dropping that.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

On the main motion as amended.

Madame Faille has a word on that.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Yes. I want to add, at the very end of the motion, “and that Citizenship and Immigration Canada explain to us how it currently applies the act.” I would like us to invite CIC officials because this legislation already exists.

I want to be specific as to why they're coming, because they don't apply the legislation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Let's see what the clerk has that clarifies this, because frankly I've lost it.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Samy Agha]

As I understand Madame Faille's motion, it would add at the end of the motion, “and CIC officials”.

So you want to invite members of the Canadian Society, immigration consultants, individuals who have used the services of immigration consultants, and Department of Citizenship and Immigration officials.

Is that correct?

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Yes.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Yes, CIC officials.

I want the officials who come to tell us how... The legislation exists. There is a section, in the Immigration Act, which requires official representatives to represent would-be immigrants. The problem here is that the legislation exists and the department is not applying its own legislation. I want it to come here to tell us what efforts...

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

The analyst makes a good point as well. She says that we should add there, “That the committee invite, among others, those who might...”. That would broaden it to allow for other individuals to be brought forward.

So we have—

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Is there a time limit that we're going to put on this? Is there a date, Bill, to submit names?

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

I think we just refer it to the agenda planning and see how the agenda works out in the fall.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

All in favour of the motion as amended?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

That's that.

The motion from Mr. Karygiannis.

Would you read your motion into the record, Mr. Karygiannis?

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would like for us to deal with both motions, that we freeze the clock at 1 o'clock, if that's okay with everybody?