You know--
Evidence of meeting #30 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was basically.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #30 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was basically.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Senior Citizenship Judge, Office of the Senior Citizenship Judge, Citizenship Commission, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
You know--
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
I asked if all the candidates, the appointees present, went through the screening process.
Senior Citizenship Judge, Office of the Senior Citizenship Judge, Citizenship Commission, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
It has been under review since the arrival of the new minister.
NDP
Senior Citizenship Judge, Office of the Senior Citizenship Judge, Citizenship Commission, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
It was around January 23, yes.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
These appointments were made in the fall. They were announced in October, so these folks, I can assume, all went through the screening process at that time.
Senior Citizenship Judge, Office of the Senior Citizenship Judge, Citizenship Commission, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
No.
Conservative
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you all for your time and your presentations. Certainly you have a lot of experience and all the qualifications.
My question is for Mr. Gill. Mr. Gill, please, could you tell the committee what your educational background is?
Citizenship Judge, Toronto (St-Clair) CIC Office, Citizenship Commission, As an Individual
Through you, Mr. Chair, to Ms. Grewal, I had to repeat my high school in Canada, because when I applied to the university when I came in, half the year had gone, and they would not accept me at the University of Toronto. So I had to repeat grade 13. I went to Parkdale Collegiate Institute, a very famous, more than 100-year-old school in Toronto. Then I went to the University of Toronto for my bachelor of chemical engineering and my master of chemical engineering degrees. I am a professional engineer.
As well, I have been, until recently, on the advisory board of the Department of Chemical Engineering in terms of my academics.
In terms of my life experience, or in terms of my business experience, I spent about 25 years manufacturing pharmaceuticals, right from the floor level, as any new immigrants do. I worked right from cleaning the floor all the way up to being vice-president of manufacturing. I was also on the processing committee of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Canada for four years representing the whole industry.
Then again, I'm still learning.
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
It is my understanding that you have worked on a number of international projects. Can you please tell us a bit about these experiences?
Citizenship Judge, Toronto (St-Clair) CIC Office, Citizenship Commission, As an Individual
Thank you.
Through you, Mr. Chair, I had the good fortune of twice being on a trade mission to India, once with the Honourable Pierre Pettigrew and the second time with the Honourable Jim Flaherty. We did have a lot of business discussions as well as contacts.
My specialization has been more in hydro generation. I've had several discussions in places in Punjab and in places in Pakistan and those regions.
Even in the ceremonies that I preside over, I mention to new citizens that they are the best ambassadors for Canada, especially to their countries of origin. They can go back. They know how to deal with them. They know the chemistry. They know the business climate.
Similarly, I was quite involved in consulting in terms of hydro generation--small hydro as well as up to 250 megawatts--and I was quite fortunate that through my efforts, Sithe Energies is setting up a 900-megawatt power plant in Bramalea--Gore--Malton, which I represented, so it was quite fortunate that they also are filling the void of power, of energy, that we all need and can use.
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
As an elected official, Bill 98 was passed in your name. Can you please tell us about that bill?
Citizenship Judge, Toronto (St-Clair) CIC Office, Citizenship Commission, As an Individual
I was very fortunate that my family was the first South Asian family in Ontario. My uncle, Jimmy Gill, was the only person from South Asia or India in Ontario, and he was the one who started the first Sikh temple on 269 Pape Avenue in 1968. So it was quite an important step for all immigrants, whichever region they came from, to have introduced Bill 98 on the South Asian heritage month, which was passed. I'm sure it can be seen in Hansard. It basically recognizes the contributions of South Asians in making this country--as we all have, from whichever part of the region we come from--the best country in the world to work and raise our families. I was quite fortunate that Bill 98, on the South Asian heritage month, passed unanimously in May.
Conservative
Citizenship Judge, Mississauga CIC Office, Citizenship Commission, As an Individual
I speak four. Portuguese is my native tongue, and I learned Spanish when I spent a month in the Dominican Republic living with the poor. I married into the Italian culture, and I studied French in university. I had to study Latin for my degree in theology, so if the Pope comes to town I'm prepared for that.
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Good.
Can you please tell the committee what your role was with the Catholic Civil Rights League?
Citizenship Judge, Mississauga CIC Office, Citizenship Commission, As an Individual
I had just graduated from university when I was approached and asked to help rebuild the Catholic Civil Rights League. I was given a box of dusty files and asked to build an organization, and that's what I did. I basically started communicating with other Catholics across the country and put together a newsletter, a membership campaign, an advertising campaign, with pamphlets, brochures, and that sort of thing. Then I began working on how to communicate the message to members of Parliament and into the wider community. The idea of the Catholic Civil Rights League is to bring the Catholic position to bear on issues of public debate.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
I think I'll have to cut you off there, Ms. Grewal. You've gone over by about 35 seconds.
We do want to try to get everyone in who didn't speak, if they wish to ask a question.
Mr. Wilson.
Liberal
Blair Wilson Liberal West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Judge Simard, for your presentation to open the committee meeting.
I'd like to congratulate all of you on your recent appointments, and wish you all the best going forward.
Mr. Gill, like yourself, I started out as a dishwasher, so I know how important that is in building character.
Could you briefly describe the screening process you went through for your appointment?
Citizenship Judge, Toronto (St-Clair) CIC Office, Citizenship Commission, As an Individual
If I may, I would like to defer that question to Judge Simard.
Liberal
Blair Wilson Liberal West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
No, Mr. Chair, I'd like the witness to answer the question and elicit the things in the process that he felt were important and would contribute to the job--his qualifications, and how he was able to commit those to the process.
Conservative
