Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Jan. 30th, 2007

[Blair Wilson, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Before he does, I thought your ruling was that the question with respect to the screening process was okay, but the questions with respect to the nomination process were out of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

I'm trying to be as flexible as I can. If you want to go strictly by what the standing order says, I could rule it out of order.

[Blair Wilson, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

I'd like a few minutes for another question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Judge Simard, you mentioned the fact that there are a number of qualified individuals who are on the so-called wait list for judges. In Montreal there are three. In Ontario there are 28. In the Atlantic there are two, and in the western provinces, five. That adds up to 38 potential judges who have been screened, vetted, and are ready to go. You have nine vacancies, and 38 people who are ready to proceed.

What's holding up the process?

[Michel Simard]

I think you will have to address that question to the Governor in Council, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

The time is up.

I could go to this side, but I do want to get Mr. Alghabra in on this.

[Rahim Jaffer, Conservative, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Yes.

[Rahim Jaffer, Conservative, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I understand we started late because of the previous committee's running late. I have obligations at 1:15 p.m., and I don't want to penalize the rest of my day because of the previous committee that ran late. I understand there's an important point of privilege or something coming forward. I would ask for the direction of the committee whether it's okay if we deal with that issue first thing in the next meeting. Like I said, I'd hate for the rest of my day to go.

So I would call a vote for that, if possible, for the other members. I see that I might be challenged.

If the will of the committee is to actually adjourn now and deal first thing with this point of privilege or whatever it might be, I'm happy to do so. It's just that I have a meeting at 1:15 p.m., and I'm sure our witnesses have to be elsewhere. They were scheduled to be here until one o'clock.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Yes.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

I've submitted a written request to you, and I'd like to put that on the floor. I'd like for it to be dealt with today, because it clarifies what happens today.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Absolutely.

Let me just thank the witnesses.

I think it only fair...and I understand where you're coming from, Mr. Jaffer, that you have to leave. I don't think I want to deal with the point of privilege until the witnesses are gone, but I do feel an obligation to give Mr. Alghabra an opportunity to ask a question as well.

[Rahim Jaffer, Conservative, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I understand, but I think I'm within my right. I called for a vote, and I can do so from the floor, within the Standing Orders, to see whether this committee should continue. I would like that entertained, please.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

I'm advised that you can't do that on a point of order, but you can put a motion forward.

[Rahim Jaffer, Conservative, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Okay. I'll change it to a motion, if that's okay. You can call that directly. It's in the Standing Orders.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

I've been informed by the clerk again--I'm not really all that up on the Standing Orders--that it has to be on a point of debate that you raise the motion in order to have it dealt with here at the committee.

Am I correct?

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. William Farrell]

Mr. Jaffer got the floor on a point of order. It wasn't during debate that he tried to move a motion. You'd have to be on a point of debate, and then move a motion that we adjourn or go forward or dismiss the committee, but not on a point of order. If you're on debate asking a question, then you could move your motion.

[Rahim Jaffer, Conservative, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I see. Thank you for that clarification, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Okay, we'll go to Omar next and have him ask a couple of brief questions. That will bring us up to 1:15, when we have to dismiss our witnesses. Then we'll go from there.

Omar.

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga—Erindale, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't have a question, just a short comment.

First, I want to congratulate all of you on your recent appointments. I'm sure you're fully aware of the responsibility this job brings. In fact it's not a nine-to-five job. I'm sure you're aware it's a responsibility you'll carry with you 24/7.

I've attended various citizenship ceremonies and know their value and the responsibility that is bestowed upon you. It's a great honour, and you are going to be the gatekeepers for Canada. You are going to be the face of Canada, welcoming new members to our extended family.

I've attended various ceremonies, and at one of them there were four MPs, and three of us were born outside of Canada.

To Mr. Gill's comment, the opportunities in this country are immense for the people who seek them, work hard within the rule of law, and respect the norms and traditions of our country.

So if I may, I want to remind you of your responsibility to be humble, compassionate, and firm in protecting our country and welcoming new immigrants.

Many reports tell us that within the next few years, 100% of the growth in labour demands will be supplied by new Canadians. In fact, 50% of our population growth will also be supplied by new immigrants, new Canadians.

So if you would allow me, I want to remind you of the huge responsibility you have, and congratulations on your new appointments.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Thank you very much.

I want to thank all of you for coming this morning. I'm sure you're anxious to leave.

Our meetings are generally a bit calmer than this one was. It was animated today, but it's usually not that way.

I want to thank you for coming and for the duties that you perform for the people of Canada. Thank you.

My ruling earlier has been challenged by Mr. Karygiannis. The ruling was that we were wandering outside the scope of the committee's study--as to the nominees' political affiliations or contributions to political parties and the nature of the nomination process itself--and that the question was irrelevant to what was going on.

So I put the question: shall my ruling be sustained?

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

Mr. Chair, you might want to wait until everyone is alive to your question before we put the question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Yes, we do have a member of Mr. Karygiannis' team who is not at the table. I'll wait a moment.

Just for the benefit of the members who weren't present when I spoke, the ruling I made earlier has been challenged.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Chair, can I have 30 seconds before we vote?

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

No, there's no debate.

(Ruling of the chair sustained: yeas 7; nays 2)