Evidence of meeting #1 for Afghanistan in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was deadline.
A recording is available from Parliament.
8:15 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I support that amendment. I support the motion, but I'd like to do a subamendment, if I may.
Of urgency is the need to look at immigration measures to bring Afghan refugees and their families here to Canada, particularly those who served Canada.
I'd like to propose a subamendment to add the words “immigration measures” after the words “humanitarian assistance”. It would then be that, pursuant to the order of the House adopted on December 8, 2021, the committee assess the humanitarian assistance measures and immigration measures to be put in place by Canada to bring relief to the Afghan people; that the committee invite representatives of the World Food Programme, groups of veterans involved in the repatriation of Afghan interpreters and NGOs working in Afghanistan and family members; to do so, that the committee hold....
I would further amend then—
8:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Madam Kwan, this can't be amended because it is altogether a separate motion as per my discussion with the clerk.
I would focus the discussion now on the friendly amendment by Parliamentary Secretary Damoff and then I'll come back if you want to propose your motion again.
8:15 p.m.
NDP
8:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
No, it's not an amendment to the number of meetings. It's altogether a different motion. You could move it as an amendment.
8:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
We are just working on the number of meetings. Then we can come back to your motion once that is finalized.
Is there any discussion on the number of meetings? If there is no discussion, I'll take a vote on that motion as amended.
8:15 p.m.
Liberal
8:15 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Now I'll move another amendment to the amended motion.
I'll go back to what I was saying. I think it is important to also look at immigration measures as an urgent matter in addition to the humanitarian assistance measures. I'd like to propose an amendment to add “immigration measures” after the words “humanitarian assistance measures”.
It would read that, pursuant to the order of the House adopted on December 8, 2021, the committee assess the humanitarian assistance measures and immigration measures to be put in place by Canada to bring relief to the Afghan people; that the committee invite representatives of the World Food Programme, groups of veterans involved in the repatriation of Afghan interpreters, and NGOs working in Afghanistan, and family members; to do so, that the committee hold a minimum of.... I'd like to amend the amended number of meetings from four to eight.
8:20 p.m.
Liberal
8:20 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Yes.
I understand the spirit of the amendment proposed here, but I think the motion, as amended, already provides for four meetings and focuses on the humanitarian crisis. In fact, that's the spirit of the motion that was passed in the House to create this committee: to focus on the humanitarian crisis. So I think we have already agreed to four meetings on the humanitarian crisis and everything that's already written down. As far as the immigration issue and everything else, I think that will be studied in later meetings. It will be the subject of another motion as a result of the meetings that we'll have under the motion that I introduced and that was amended by Ms. Damoff.
So, I'm opposed to that, so that we don't complicate things and get lost in it all.
8:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Madam Kwan, it is my understanding that you have to withdraw this motion unanimously, and then you can bring it back with unanimous....
Madam Kwan, the floor is yours.
8:20 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
In an effort to be collaborative, I would like to withdraw my amendment. I will move that as a separate motion. Maybe that would simplify things.
(Amendment withdrawn)
8:20 p.m.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Thank you, Chair. I had just wanted to add to what Ms. Kwan proposed, but now—
8:20 p.m.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
Through you, Chair, does the mover of the motion want to add a date by which the witnesses' names need to be submitted to the clerk? I'll leave it to his judgment.
8:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, do you have anything to add before we take a vote?
8:20 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
I did not hear the interpretation of the end of the sentence, which seemed to be really important.
Could you repeat it, please?
8:20 p.m.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
It's about whether we should add a date for the witnesses.
8:20 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Yes, okay.
To be realistic, we would first have to know when the committee is going to meet for the first time so that we can determine a deadline. I don't think we have decided that yet. I think it should be a week before the first meeting of the committee. That's sort of how it usually works.
8:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you.
I think it's very clear, Madam Damoff.
I don't see any other member who wants to speak, so I would like to take the vote on the motion as amended.
(Motion as amended agreed to)
Thank you.
Madam Kwan, before I go to you, can I just quickly check with the honourable Mr. Chong to see if he has something to say on the same motion that got passed?
Mr. Chong.