Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Feb. 12th, 2009

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Are we all happy? We're not all happy, but we're going to vote. The chair has been challenged.

Mr. Clerk.

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

Can you read the question on the challenge?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Shall the chair's ruling be sustained? I ruled that Ms. Wong would have the floor. Mr. Karygiannis wants to vote on the issue. The chair has ruled no, the debate is still on and Ms. Wong will have the floor.

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

Mr. Chair, can I ask a question? Before the challenge and all that stuff, I'd like us to deal with this motion today. I see the clock moving. So if the chair would like to give a couple of minutes to Ms. Wong, and then come back to the vote--

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

It doesn't work that way. Either the committee is in agreement with you or the committee isn't.

Mr. Clerk, I'm sorry, I keep jumping in.

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

We're voting on what?

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

The chair has been challenged.

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Oh, we're voting on that. Okay.

(Ruling of the chair sustained: yeas 7; nays 4)

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Ms. Wong.

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond, BC]

First of all, I do see a big problem in giving a blanket statement, and given the way it is stated in the present amended motion. Yes, we feel sorry for the Sri Lankan people who are in such a dangerous position, and the government has done its best to assist those who are there.

I do echo Mr. Paul Calandra's concern that there are already people who are here and, for good reasons, these people need to be deported. If we give a blanket consent that these people should not go back, it will endanger those from the same community who are already here. For the benefit of those who are already here and who really fear the people from their own community who should actually be deported, I think this will create challenges for them. That's number one.

Number two, I'm glad that Mr. Paul Calandra, because of his collegial manner, has withdrawn his comment.

Mr. Chair, I want to draw your attention to our Honourable Mr. Jim Karygiannis. Whenever people do not agree with what he says, then he starts to give comments, critiques, which are not relevant. For example, like Mr. Thierry--

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Ms. Wong, I'd like you to stick to the debate, please.

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond, BC]

My debate is that I do not think this is a safe--

[Some hon. members]

[Inaudible--Editor]

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I'm having trouble hearing Ms. Wong. Could I have some order, please?

Go ahead.

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond, BC]

My point is that I do not see this as a good way to protect the people who are already here in the Tamil community, because of the fact that some people--

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

We have a point of order, Ms. Wong.

Mr. Karygiannis.

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

What does that have to do with the price of apples? She asked to speak to this motion--

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond, BC]

I am speaking to this motion, and I have the floor, Mr. Jim Karygiannis.

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

Mr. Chair, she's also making some personal remarks.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

We got off that, Mr. Karygiannis.

Ms. Wong, carry on.

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond, BC]

All right. My point is that with respect to to protecting those who are already here against those who should have been deported, I don't think this is the right move, so I'm speaking against this.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Is there any further debate?

Seeing none, then we shall vote on this motion as amended.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

I'd like a recorded vote.

[An hon. member]

Could you read the motion, please?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I don't know whether I can read my writing, but I'll try:

That in the opinion of the Committee, the government should declare a moratorium on deportations to Sri Lanka until a safe environment exists there, and that it should expedite any family class sponsorships and refugee claimants from the danger zone; and that the Committee adopt these recommendations as a report to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 108(1), the Chair present it to the House.