Evidence of meeting #56 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 questions.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Chair, just for clarification, in the first amendment did we state that we will invite people from the unit at CPC Sydney, as I stated? I'm not sure if that made it in.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
No, but there were people who were actually missing.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Besides the people who were missing, also the director of CPC Sydney, Ernest Smith, wasn't here last time.
Liberal
Andrew Telegdi Liberal Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
No, he wasn't invited, but as for the other ones, we have plenty there to invite.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
Okay, the question is on the second amendment, to have witnesses sworn in.
(Amendment agreed to)
(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
The second motion, in the name of Mr. Karygiannis, reads: “That the Committee on Citizenship and Immigration invite Ken Sandhu and Lois Delia Figg to appear before the Committee regarding their appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board.”
Mr. Karygiannis.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Chair, we have invited people who were appointed to citizenship on IRB before. In keeping with that practice, I think that it's due diligence for this committee to invite these two individuals and put questions in front of them.
Conservative
Barry Devolin Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Why these two in particular? Is there some—
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to move the motion. Do you want me to read it into the record?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
I think people have read it. Maybe you can just explain it or talk to it or whatever.
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
The purpose of this motion is to basically reach a conclusion. The committee makes a conclusion based on the evidence that we heard on the recent discussion and debate of the so-called Harrison report, and the witnesses' and the stakeholders' feedback. I think it's appropriate that the committee express its opinion on this Harrison report, especially as the minister is examining it and considering adopting it; and also refer to the crisis situation in IRB and stress the point that the minister should move on in appointing vacancies.
So I think it's appropriate that the committee express itself on these two matters.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
I think these precise issues Mr. Alghabra speaks of were raised by the committee as a whole in dealing with the report, so this would be like a pre-report report. It seems to me that if the committee is already dealing with these issues in what will potentially be a report, there would be no need to have this additional motion.
For that reason, certainly, I would oppose it. It's going to be dealt with.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Chair, given Mr. Komarnicki's comment, I think the crisis is such that we should do this motion and our report. This will get completed and reported to the House before our report is finished. Given the urgency, I think we should go ahead with this as well.
Liberal
Blair Wilson Liberal West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Is there any requirement that the minister of the department report back to us once this is passed or once this is tabled? Do we want to add something to the effect that the minister would report back to the committee? Will there be something in our report that the minister or the department will have to report back?