Evidence of meeting #26 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was csic.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in meeting number 26, Monday, October 18, 2010.
The orders of the day are twofold. For the first ten minutes there is a motion from Mr. Trudeau, and, pursuant to the order of reference of Thursday, September 23, 2010, Bill C-35, an act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Mr. Trudeau, you have the floor. I believe you've already made your motion.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
I've already made the motion, Chair. It's just a question of responding to the fact that right now the government has included same-sex marriage protection in the visitors guide and has indicated it will be doing so in the citizenship guide in the next edition that comes out. But I think the committee would be interested in seeing what discussions went on between the minister's office and the department when it was decided that it be excluded from the original section of the immigration guide.
3:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
No, that's not why the motion is in order. I held that it was in order at the last meeting.
3:30 p.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
That's right. This committee will approve questions to get all the information from ministers on x number of issues. Is that...? It's just that I haven't seen a motion like this in the last three or four years. So requesting information from the minister on a certain subject at this committee, that is okay, I assume, because normally--
3:30 p.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Because normally, Mr. Chair, we would ask for a position on X, Y, and Z, and it would be through ATI or through asking the ministers through Standing Order 43. But if it is in order, then that's fine. I just want to be sure, because in future there may be other ones if this is the ruling.
3:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
I discussed this privately with Mr. Trudeau at the last meeting: that this type of motion should be discussed at the subcommittee meetings as to when and how it would be disposed of, and I think he agreed with that. So the motion is in order and there doesn't appear to be any further debate.
3:30 p.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
In terms of “all...electronic”, this would be from the beginning of the issue to now, I assume. Would that be the period of time?
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
No. It says “on the issue of including same sex marriage protection...in the most recent edition”, so it would be during the time of the preparation of the renewed citizenship guide up to the actual publication of the citizenship guide.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
3:35 p.m.
NDP
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
We're talking about the most recent edition. The upcoming one isn't an existing edition yet. It's indicated, but this really is about looking back at that blank space in the original guide that you did so much work in highlighting as well.
3:35 p.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
So if it's okay, this is the original edition, because the recent edition is the one that is just coming out. Your interpretation of “recent” is really the one we have now.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Exactly. For the citizenship guide, the recent edition of the citizenship guide is one that is not out yet. They've indicated that there will be a new edition coming out in probably six months or so, but this is going to the one that exists now, that was published--