Evidence of meeting #1 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Stephanie Bond
Good afternoon, honourable members.
I see a quorum.
I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions, cannot entertain points of order, nor participate in debate.
We can now proceed to the election of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party.
I am ready to receive motions for the chair.
Mr. Dhaliwal.
11:05 a.m.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Surrey—Newton, BC
Madam Clerk, I would like to propose Mrs. Zahid to be the chair of this committee.
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Dhaliwal that Mrs. Zahid be elected chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Seeing none, it has been moved by Mr. Dhaliwal that Mrs. Zahid be elected chair of the committee. I declare the motion carried, and Mrs. Zahid duly elected chair of the committee.
(Motion agreed to)
11:05 a.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
I invite Mrs. Zahid to take the chair.
11:05 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Good morning, everyone. Thanks to all of the members for putting your trust in me. I look forward to working with you all to make sure that we can raise the issues and concerns we have from our constituents. Thank you for your trust.
If the committee is in agreement, I will invite the clerk to proceed to the election of the vice-chairs.
Thank you.
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.
I am now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.
Mr. El-Khoury.
11:05 a.m.
Bloc
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
Mr. Hallan.
11:05 a.m.
Conservative
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
Thank you, and congratulations, Madam Chair.
I move that Mr. Kyle Seeback be elected first vice-chair from the Conservative Party.
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Hallan that Mr. Kyle Seeback be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
11:05 a.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
I declare the motion carried, and Mr. Seeback duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.
I am now prepared to receive motions for the second vice-chair.
Mr. El-Khoury.
11:05 a.m.
Liberal
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. El-Khoury that Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Seeing none, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare Monsieur Brunelle-Duceppe duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.
11:05 a.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Thank you, Madam Clerk.
Welcome to meeting number one of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of November 25. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application. Regarding the speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do the best we can to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, whether participating virtually or in person.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind all participants to this meeting that screenshots or taking photos of your screen is not permitted. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website.
Given the ongoing pandemic situation and in light of the recommendations from public health authorities, as well as the directive of the Board of Internal Economy on October 19, to remain healthy and safe, the following are the recommendations for all those attending the meeting in person. Anyone with symptoms should participate by Zoom, and not attend the meeting in person. Everyone must maintain two-metre physical distancing, whether seated or standing. Everyone must wear a non-medical mask when circulating in the room. It is recommended in the strongest possible terms that members wear their masks at all times, including when seated. Non-medical masks, which provide better clarity over cloth masks, are available in the room. Everyone present must maintain proper hand hygiene by using the hand sanitizer at the room entrance. Committee rooms are cleaned before and after each meeting. To maintain this, everyone is encouraged to clean surfaces such as desks, chairs and microphones with the provided disinfectant wipes when vacating or taking a seat.
As the chair, I will be enforcing these measures for the duration of the meeting, and I thank all the members in advance for their co-operation.
I would like suggest that as the next order of business, the committee now proceed to considering our routine motions. In preparation for this, the committee clerk has circulated a list of routine motions that the committee adopted in the last parliamentary session. The committee clerk can answer any questions about the routine motions any member may have.
If the committee wishes to adopt routine motions, we can proceed to that.
Go ahead, Mr. El-Khoury.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Good morning to all.
The motion reads as follows:
Routine motions
Notice of motions
That a 48-hour notice, interpreted as two nights, be required for any substantive motion to be moved in committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that: (a) the notice be filed with the clerk of the committee no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; (b) the motion be distributed to members and the offices of the whips of each recognized party in both official languages by the clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted, if it was received no later than the deadline hour; (c) notices received after the deadline hour or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day; and that when the committee is holding meetings outside the parliamentary precinct, no substantive motion may be moved.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Thank you.
We will go one by one. After every motion, we will have a vote and then proceed to the next one.
The first is on notice of motions.
(Motion agreed to)
You can proceed to the next one.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
The next one reads:
That, in relation to orders of reference from the House respecting Bills,
(a) The clerk of the committee shall, upon the committee receiving such an order of reference, write to each Member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee to invite those members to file with the clerk of the committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the bill which is subject of the said order which they would suggest that the committee consider;
(b) Suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior of the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given bill; and
(c) During the clause-by-clause consideration of a bill, the Chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
The next motion concerns technical tests for witnesses:
That the clerk inform each witness who is to appear before the committee that the House administration support team must conduct technical tests to check the connectivity and the equipment used to ensure the best possible sound quality; and that the chair advise the committee, at the start of each meeting, of any witness who did not perform the required technical tests.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
