Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Sept. 28th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Okay, we're going to get going. I think we have a quorum and then some.

I want to welcome to our committee this morning officials from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration: Mark Davidson, director; Alain Laurencelle, counsel; and Karen Clarke, acting manager. Thank you for coming, and welcome to the committee.

We're going to try to plow our way through the rest of Bill C-14. I guess we'll begin logically where we left off, which was at clause 3. There were no amendments to clause 3, so I think that one was fairly straightforward.

(Clause 3 agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Now we will go to the confusing part of the bill. We've had a number of amendments, and some of these amendments have now been withdrawn. We're proceeding with some new ones, and I think you have copies. You have a package that contains the amendments, but I'm told that's not accurate on 11.1. Since then the parliamentary secretary has distributed Madame Faille's two amendments. Pull BQ-4.1 and BQ-5.1 out of the package; they're not relevant any more. We have the new ones.

“That Bill C-14 be amended by adding after line 31 on page 2 the following new clause”--this is what Madame Faille has submitted. Has everyone got that one, for 3.1?

I believe the copy you have is that the act is amended by adding the following after section 27:

The Minister shall cause a copy of each regulation proposed to be made under paragraph 27(d.1) to be laid before each House of Parliament, and each House shall refer the proposed regulation to the appropriate Committee of that House.

Are you going to move the amendment, Madame Faille?

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Yes. The change is in the third paragraph:

(3) The Governor in Council may make the regulation at any time after the proposed regulation has been laid before each House of Parliament under subsection (1).

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Is there any debate?

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

What was that point again, Madame Faille? I didn't catch it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Yes. I think most people were getting their translation on there. I would ask you to repeat it, please.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

The change is to the third paragraph. We would replace the words « the Governor in Council may make the regulation within six months after the date on which this Act receives royal assent » by:

(3) The Governor in Council may make the regulation at any time after the proposed regulation has been laid before each House of Parliament under subsection (1).

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Okay.

Bill, go ahead, please.

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

I wonder if Mr. Komarnicki could give the interpreters a copy of the document he circulated, because they don't have that. That's what the confusion is about.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Okay. We'll ensure that the interpreters get a copy of it.

Is there any further debate on the amendment submitted by Madame Faille?

Shall the amendment carry?

(Amendment agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Okay. Thank you.

Now we'll go to clause 4, for which Madame Faille has proposed another amendment, of which you have a copy.

A point of order, Mr. Siksay.

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Don't we have to vote on the clause as amended, or is that not necessary in this case?

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

No, it's a new clause.

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

So it's done?

Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

We'll go to clause 4, and you have a copy of it as well.

This Act comes into force on the earlier of (a) a date to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, and (b) six months after the day on which this Act receives royal assent.

Madame Faille, would you please move that?

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

I move that Bill C-14, in clause 4, be amended by replacing lines 32 and 33 on page 2 with the following:

4. This Act comes into force on the earlier of

(a) the day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, and

(b) six months after the day on which this Act receives royal assent.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Thank you, Madame Faille.

Do we have any debate on that particular amendment?

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

No. It's one that was obviously worked on by the parties, and an agreement was reached as kind of a compromise to various positions, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Is there any further debate?

(Amendment agreed to)

(Clause 4 as amended agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Shall the title carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Shall the bill as amended carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Shall the chair report the bill as amended to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.