Evidence of meeting #37 for Finance in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was bank.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
I think Mr. Crête is asking for the notice of motion that we have as committee business to be accelerated to now in the committee agenda, which means we would take it now.
Thank you, Mr. Minister, for coming in.
Mr. Dykstra.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Just to be clear, my colleague Mr. Del Mastro said it. A point of order on a point of order. You actually can't move a motion on a point of order. If Mr. Crête wants to ask for unanimous consent, that's fine, but it's not a point of order.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
No, I agree it's not a point of order, and it was unanimous consent. That's what I was asking for. Do we have unanimous consent to move it to now?
That's what I discerned, that we do have consent. So let's proceed.
Go ahead, Mr. Crête.
4:30 p.m.
Bloc
Paul Crête Bloc Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
All committee members have had an opportunity to read the motion. Contrary to what the minister said, I think it only reasonable to ask the Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to study the part of the bill that has to do with immigration. That's why this motion seeks that committee's recommendations by May 9, so that they can be taken into account before proceeding to clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Yes, I'm not quite sure of the order, but I have a small friendly amendment, which I have discussed with Mr. Crête, to make to the motion.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
I need a point of clarification. Mr. Crête asks for unanimous consent to move his motion and vote on it immediately.
4:35 p.m.
Bloc
Paul Crête Bloc Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
To discuss the motion, to debate it.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
We agreed to move forward on a motion unanimously, and now all of a sudden we have Mr. McCallum moving amendments to the motion.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
We've accepted the opportunity to have him introduce his notice of motion. We'll have discussion on that motion. If there's an amendment to that motion, we'll take that in order. So if you have an amendment, we'll hear it.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Thank you.
On the third line, instead of saying “consider Part 6 of Bill C-50 ”, it would say “consider the subject matter of Part 6 of Bill C-50”.
I don't think that is of great import, but that is the amendment.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Okay. Is there any concern with the amendment? Seeing none, we'll accept it all in one. Is that fair?
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
That was carried unanimously. Thank you very much.
We'll now ask the department to come forward, and we will proceed with the second part of our agreement.
Go ahead, Mr. Pacetti.
April 16th, 2008 / 4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Just for clarification, what does this motion we just adopted mean? I would have voted in favour. But what will happen if the standing committee says yes or says no or asks for an extension of time? What is the commitment between our committee and their committee in terms of...?
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
We'll write the letter. As I understand the motion, it is a request that we get input from the citizen and immigration committee with regard to that portion of this motion.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
It's not binding. But let's say, for example, that they were to come back and say, well, we'll get it ready for you for May 11 or May 12.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Fair enough.
Do we have our department? No. Okay, there are no further presentations. We're just going to continue with questions and answers. We will proceed with that.
Mr. Pacetti, you can start. We're into our seven-minute round, so go ahead for seven minutes.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Okay, I may be sharing my time.
This is a quick question. On the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act again, what is going to be the involvement of the Department of Finance officials on this aspect of reforming the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act?
I'm not sure who I can even ask the question to.
4:35 p.m.
Andrea Lyon Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada
I'll take that.
I assume that you're referring to the instructions the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration will be issuing pursuant to the legislation. Minister Finley issued a press release on April 8 that outlined some of the guidelines or principles that will be relevant in the issuance of these instructions. Some of those include a series of consultation exercises the government will engage in interdepartmentally and also more broadly, with interested stakeholders such as the provinces, such as labour, such as the business community.
The instructions themselves will also appear in the Canada Gazette, and they will also appear in the annual plan the minister tables in the House.
