Evidence of meeting #91 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 amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
Paul Chiang Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My apologies, colleagues. Let me clarify my amendment.
If they're appearing separately, Minister Miller would be appearing for 90 minutes alone, with Minister Fraser appearing for one hour separately. If both ministers appear together, then it will be for two hours.
In the motion, Mr. Clerk, for the second two-hour part—“officials for two hours”—it would be 90 minutes.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Is every honourable member clear about this? Is there any more discussion before we take a vote?
Is there consensus to carry this forward?
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Go ahead, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.
12:45 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
I'm sorry, now I'm the one moving an amendment that I didn't have translated. I discussed it with the clerk. As you'll see, it's not very complicated. It's my fault; I should have thought of it before.
After item (e), I would add item (f):
(f) the justification for the new measure regarding open work permits for spouses of international students.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
We have an amendment from Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe on the floor.
I see Madam Kwan. If there is anyone else for the speaker list, please raise your hand so I can put you on the list.
Madam Kwan, go ahead, please.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
I'll speak quickly to this.
Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe is correct. That should have been part of the motion. I had forgotten about that. It is an important piece, so I appreciate it. I hope committee members will support it.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you.
As there is no more discussion, all in favour?
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
We are doing really well.
Does the motion as amended carry?
(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Go ahead, Mr. Redekopp.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Sorry, hold on Mr. Redekopp.
Madam Kayabaga, you were on the list of speakers for this motion. I'm sorry. The floor is yours.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Arielle Kayabaga Liberal London West, ON
Yes, I'm good with that. Thank you so much.
I just want to echo my support for this motion. I think it's important we hear about the measures to ensure that international students aren't blamed. The goal here is to ensure the integrity of the system.
I want to get back to some of the comments that have been made in this committee around the blame being put on the students. The false phrasing from last week on the intention and words of the minister when fixing a system that we know the Conservative minister expanded and let run rampant.... We've cleaned it up, but it's important that we not use international students as scapegoats. It's important that we get factual information.
In 2010, the Conservatives introduced the Balanced Refugee Reform Act, which aimed to deter refugee claims and undermine Canada's humanitarian tradition and commitment to protecting the vulnerable fleeing persecution. They did that. The minister expanded the international student program, and he let it run. It's on the record. We've fixed that, so it's not true that we are the ones running the system rampant. We're fixing the problems they created.
Every single time there's a cut to any program or there is any change made to reduce them, it has ripple effects. These ripple effects can go on for years.
The result of what we're seeing and what's happening with the international students is not their fault. I think it's important that everybody knows that. It's important that they understand we are not saying it's their fault. The minister never said that. This is a system they broke and that we're fixing, and they're yelling at us.
Where were they when their minister, in the Harper era, broke the system, when they had an opportunity to protect vulnerable people and they didn't? They're trying to switch it around, switch the language, to blame us when we're cleaning up the mess they've created. That's unacceptable. I think international students need to know that.
I have pages, records, of things they've done on housing, and we're stepping up and trying to fix them to make sure there is infrastructure in place so that when international students come, they have the proper supports to succeed.
Talking about housing, as I said last week, housing is a provincial issue, yet we're stepping up and we're supporting municipalities. We're working with municipalities. Do you know what the Conservatives did? They cut housing agreements with Quebec, with Nunavut and with cities across Canada, and they have the audacity to come to this committee and blame us for that. That's unacceptable.
They voted against programs for over 86,000 new apartments in December. How are they helping international students? Why are they misquoting what the minister said and the intent of the work that he's trying to do? I don't think we have any lessons to take from them—absolutely none.
I really think this is a good motion that we should all support to make sure we allow the ministers to come here and explain.
12:50 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
I just realized that we're still discussing the motion, but it has already been adopted.
Should we be discussing a motion that has already been adopted? I think we can move on.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Arielle Kayabaga Liberal London West, ON
I was allowed to speak to the motion because the Chair had skipped my turn.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
She was on the speaking list and it was, on my part, overlooked. She wanted to support the motion and say that, even though the motion was passed. Members are welcome to speak.
Now we will go to Mr. Redekopp.
Please go ahead.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll just make a quick comment on what we just heard.
It's pretty clear—and it was right from the minister's mouth—that the immigration system is broken and is not functioning well. You can't change public opinion by just wanting it to change. It's not like that. I just wanted to mention that.
I have a motion to move, and it is as follows:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to appear for one hour with officials, and invite departmental officials along with officials from the Immigration and Refugee Board to appear for one hour, on the Supplementary Estimates (C) for the fiscal year 2023-24 after they are tabled in the House of Commons, and that they appear before the end of the current supply period.
This is standard procedure for us, and I know we will do this, so I just wanted to get on the record that we should do it. I'm sure all of us agree that it is important to get the minister to talk about the supplementary estimates (C), so I'd like to move that motion.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
The motion is on the floor.
Is there any more discussion before we take a vote?
Go ahead, Madam Zahid.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Are we debating this motion or are we looking into some time frames? Where would it fall approximately?
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
The motion is on the floor, and the debate is on the motion as presented by Mr. Redekopp.
Go ahead, Mr. El-Khoury.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
I think we have no issues. I believe we can support this motion and go to a vote, Mr. Chair.