Foreign Affairs Committee on May 16th, 2023

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Basically, section 240.1 of the Criminal Code will apply both to permanent residents and to foreign nationals, because there was some confusion about one being removed and not the other.

[Scott Nesbitt]

As for the (c.1) provision, it remains unchanged from as enacted in Bill S-223, so I believe it does apply to permanent residents and foreign nationals, but the Bill S-8 inadmissibilities on sanctions only apply to foreign nationals.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Garnett Genuis]

Go ahead, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

To help the interpreters, officials should move closer to the microphone when they speak. It is sometimes difficult for the interpreters to do their job well. I heard them say a few things to that effect.

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Garnett Genuis]

Thank you, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe. That's a good point.

The suggestion is to make sure you're close to the microphone when you're speaking to aid the interpreters.

Is there further debate on proposed G-1?

Mr. Epp.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

I have a question for Mr. Oliphant.

With the proposed deletion in G-1 of paragraph (c), which only refers to permanent residents, is it the intention then to leave—I'm getting confused now—foreign nationals...? Is the intention to allow permanent residents who may have received an illegal organ transplant not to be subject to the inadmissibility under Bill S-8?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

I remember hearing testimony to say that this does not impact the organ transplant bill at all, so there's no impact on what we've already done in that bill. Whatever was in that bill is there, and this does not have any impact on that or change it.

That's what I heard from experts. I'm not an expert on it, but I did hear that.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

I'm not burdened with a legal education either.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

I do believe they're nodding.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Garnett Genuis]

I'm sorry. We're letting the normal process...but it's good that everyone's getting along.

Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Chair, I would simply like to know whether, at this committee, we need to ask the chair to speak or if we can simply go ahead and do so.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Garnett Genuis]

Generally, yes. I'm new in this position.

You can tell the chair that I was doing my best to uphold his practices.

Is there further debate on G-1? I am seeing none.

(Amendment agreed to)

As mentioned, CPC-1 will now not be moved.

(Clause 5 as amended agreed to)

(On clause 6)

We now have clause 6. I believe that Ms. McPherson has an amendment. Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe has one as well, but we'll start with the one that's in the package.

Go ahead, Ms. McPherson.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you very much.

Before I move my amendment, I would ask that the chair give us some time to consider the motion that I tried to bring forward at the beginning of the meeting, my motion that is looking at peace in Israel and Palestine.

Would that be possible to do after clause-by-clause, Mr. Chair?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Garnett Genuis]

Ms. McPherson, I'll consult with the committee, after clause-by-clause, on what folks want to do next and depending on time and resources. I'm happy to pose the question to the committee at that point.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I think that's your decision to make, so I'd like to know that because that will determine my next steps.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Garnett Genuis]

Ms. McPherson, I'll reflect on that, but right now, if you'd like to move NDP-1 for discussion of that motion—

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I can wait for you to reflect. I'd actually like to know the answer to the question of whether or not you would allow us to have that debate on that motion.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Garnett Genuis]

Ms. McPherson, is it your intention to move NDP-1 or not?

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I'm just asking if you could let me know if you'd be willing to give the floor, if there is time at the end of the meeting, so that we can debate the motion that I brought forward last Thursday and that I would like to bring forward today so that the committee can make a decision on it.

I think, realistically, the reason that you said we couldn't do this last week was that we had witnesses. We don't have witnesses the same way today. We do have the time to do this. I don't think it would take very long—really just a few minutes—to do a vote and to have a bit of a discussion on it. That's what I would like to do.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Garnett Genuis]

Ms. McPherson, I'm going to jump in.

Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, would you like to move your amendment?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

I do believe that Ms. McPherson has the floor. I think you are correct in saying that she could move her motion now but that you would be not able to say whether or not it could happen later because that depends on the meeting.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Garnett Genuis]

I'm sorry—

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Am I correct? If she has the floor, she can do anything she wants with it.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Garnett Genuis]

Mr. Oliphant, she has the floor in the context of the consideration of clause 6. She is welcome to move an amendment to clause 6 or to speak to clause 6, but she cannot move another motion because it's an established principle, the rules of the committee, that you can't have two motions on the table at once. When clause 6 is being considered—

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Then I will move to proceed to another order of business, please.