Evidence of meeting #35 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was haitians.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
Fair enough. We could just proceed with that.
There is one more issue, and we don't necessarily have to do this in camera. I just want to confirm that it is the will of the committee that in the context of Bill S-223, the deadline for the submission of amendments to the clerk of the committee be no later than noon on Thursday, November 10, 2022.
Is everyone in favour? Are you unanimous on that?
Go ahead, Mr. Bergeron.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Mr. Chair, I get the impression we're being asked for proposed amendments before we've finished our meetings. Am I mistaken?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
The only reason this issue does arise is that, as you will recall, in the last meeting we adopted the calendar for November, so we're left in this awkward position.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
It's not just strange but also simply wrong for us to presume to know what we're going to hear in order to prepare proposed amendments.
November 2nd, 2022 / 6:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
Well, Mr. Bergeron, with all due respect, the motion was put before all the members, and members did vote in favour, not having thought of the implications that doing so would have.
Go ahead, Mr. Genuis.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
If it's helpful, I will just make a comment on Bill S-223. I am of the view that this bill can be studied and proceeded with relatively quickly because it's been studied on multiple occasions by committees in the House and the Senate. This committee and the House previously studied this bill and amended it. The form in which we are receiving it from the Senate in this Parliament is identical to the form amended by a previous version of the House foreign affairs committee.
I'm a little biased. It's a bill that I am sponsoring, but this bill has gone through about five different versions and different Parliaments over 15 years. I think the argument for a somewhat more expedited timeline around hearings on this is that there's been extensive testimony and discussion in previous Parliaments.
While I would generally agree with the principle of the argument that Mr. Bergeron is making in the context of a new bill, I think the process makes sense in the context of a bill that, frankly, every time it's been voted on, everybody has agreed to. It has nonetheless not managed to complete its legislative journey in 15 years.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
I wanted to take note of what Mr. Genuis said about how this has been discussed many times, but my understanding is that this is normally discussed in camera, so I move to adjourn.