Evidence of meeting #37 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 reporter.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

Okay.

Mr. Komarnicki, do we really need to have any discussion, then, on the amendment? If we do it at the opening of our next meeting, on Thursday, that would be fine?

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

That's fair.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

If that part of it is okay.

We're dealing with the motion, and now I'll go to....

Members, I'm told that the amendment has to be dealt with first.

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC

Do I see that the Conservatives are willing to accept that as a friendly amendment?

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

Yes. Okay, that's dealt with.

Going to the motion, Mr. Telegdi.

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Andrew Telegdi Liberal Kitchener—Waterloo, ON

I think the two vice-chairs will question the chair, so everybody is covered.

11:40 a.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

That's fine, but may I remind you that I never got the report until yesterday.

11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Andrew Telegdi Liberal Kitchener—Waterloo, ON

Yes.

You know, to some extent I want to be somewhat careful. Sometimes we do ourselves.... Notwithstanding all that's been said, we had an income trust scandal, if you will, where it turned out that neither a politician nor a political staffer was involved. It's important to keep that in mind.

Look, for the record, Mr. Chair, I did not leak the report, nor did I talk to any of the reporters. But let me just say that this is serious, let's deal with it, and then let's get back to the report. It's important that we get this done. We have lots of important work to do, and we have now spent 42 minutes on this. I'm concerned that we get this report out.

So in terms of the motion, yes to the first, no to the second.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

Madame Faille.

11:40 a.m.

Bloc

Meili Faille Bloc Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC

I just wanted to clarify that I was questioned by a reporter on Thursday when I emerged from Question Period. Everyone is talking about questions having been asked on Friday. He told me that when we visited Kingston, some guards had been scheduled to appear before the committee . He said he had learned that very day that I had opposed this. So then, the reporter knew that I had voted against the motion. This happened right after Question Period, a mere hour into the day's proceedings.

Nevertheless, I don't have a problem with the parliamentary secretary's motion. I for one never leaked the report over to anyone.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

No, no, I'm sure that wouldn't constitute leaking the report, what you're telling us there.

Mr. Alghabra.

February 20th, 2007 / 11:40 a.m.

Liberal

Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just want to say that I also did not leak the report to the media. It was similar to what happened to Meili. I was approached by the reporter who wrote that story. He asked me why I had voted against the motion on bringing in detainees. So I was quoted in that article as saying.... The quote is there. It was a selective quote, by the way. I had a lot more to say at the time, but that's expected.

I just want to go on the record as saying yes, I was asked by the reporter, but I did not leak the report to him, and I support the motion that was put forth.

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

Okay. Well, I'm reluctant to cut it off. We still have hands going up here.

Mr. Siksay.

11:45 a.m.

NDP

Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC

Sorry, Chair, now that we're declaring, I also want to declare that I did not leak the report. I have been asked by a reporter to comment on the leaked report and have refused to comment on anything that pertains to the leaked report.

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

Good. Thank you.

We have heard the motion and we've debated and discussed the motion.

Do we have a nuance?

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Briefly looking at the newspaper report, Mr. Chair, I noticed that my name was on there. I was the one who had moved the motion that we do call the detainees here. I don't even know the reporter, and I didn't leak the report. Let's put that on the record.

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

Mr. Komarnicki, did you have a final word?

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

Yes, for the record, I was asked for an interview on the report and declined the interview and did not leak the report to the reporter in question, but--

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Mr. Chair, right now it looks like the members want to say if they leaked or didn't leak the report. So why don't you just move on and have anybody who wants to go on the record--

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

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

Who's the chair?

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

Are you finished, Mr. Komarnicki?

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

Yes, I am.

11:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

Mr. Wilson, you wanted a word.

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

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

I just want to go on the record as well that I kept the report confidential.