Oh, oh!
Evidence of meeting #60 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 mother.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #60 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 mother.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:45 a.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
11:45 a.m.
As an Individual
When his father passed away.... He never had been a Canadian, and nobody asked him. When he passed away, they had trouble, but legally they had to.... That was funny in those years; it was about in the 1960s. He got his citoyenneté right away. Maybe he was dead, but since we needed to bury him, he got the paper. There are so many things that don't make sense.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
That's fine. You're doing very well. It's just that we're getting out of time here, and I have a couple of people on the list. Sometimes I have to interrupt.
Mr. Komarnicki.
May 29th, 2007 / 11:45 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Thank you very much for sharing your stories and concern. They're certainly moving and they're compelling and very personal to you, and I want you to know that certainly to the extent that you've suffered any inconvenience and anguish, we're sorry for that. It would certainly be our view that the department and those of us on the committee who are able to need to do what we can to address your issues and resolve them.
From Mr. Vallière's point of view, you've certainly paid your dues and you've done all we would ask, and we certainly admire you for that. We don't want to get in your way. We want to be a part of the solution to your situation.
This problem we have is in some ways an archaic one and in some ways it has certain peculiarities that have existed for a number of years. I know the government--not this one but the governments in the past--has not addressed this issue as they should have. Certainly, the present minister has said she would like to see this issue fixed, and she's asked the committee to make recommendations that she will look at and will focus on.
Certainly, when you go through, as Lisa was saying...and certainly the mother can appreciate she's got a good advocate and someone who's well able to put your case forward very well. You're well-represented. But at times you may get conflicting information and a lot of documentation. In your case, as I understand it, you were born to a Canadian father and a British mother and were a Canadian citizen. It's a matter of just proving that as opposed to losing it, and you certainly didn't need to go through a lot of hassles to do that. The minister has indicated, and I think it's a good step, to be sure we have personnel in place who are familiar with the issues and can give you the right answer the first time, and we certainly need to be able to do that.
The minister has also indicated that she's working to ensure that those who have a substantial connection with Canada, as Mr. Vallière has said...that their benefits, like health care, old age security, and so on, are not in jeopardy and that they are secure. Certainly, after hearing from you today you can expect that there will be an expeditious review by the department into your individual cases to ensure that justice prevails. I appreciate your sharing all your concerns with us, and I think it will be our job to ensure that we find solutions to these issues, which obviously require some action on the government's part.
So thank you again for sharing some things that are very personal to you, and I realize you do it with emotion because it affects you very much personally. You're not just another case out there. It affects you very much, and I want you to know we hear that and we are listening to what you have to say.
Thank you.
Do I have any more time, Mr. Chair?
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
It's three minutes, but I said four minutes for each one. Are you sharing your four minutes?
You have a minute, Mr. Batters, if you want.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
A point of order, Mr. Chair.
I thought when we did our speaking order arrangements, we agreed we wouldn't allow sharing of times. Sorry about that.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
I think the clerk is wrong, if he wants to check the original agreement.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
Mr. Clerk, is there sharing of time?
Anyway, folks, we only have five minutes left. I don't want to get....
Okay, go ahead.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
I'll use up the minute.
I don't think what Mr. Siksay is saying is correct. We should verify that, but perhaps in the future.
I want to say for the record that certainly your mother, Marion, is not a security threat and is somebody who has added a lot to the fabric of our society and of our country and is someone we want to treat with utmost respect. We certainly want to go out of our way to make things easier for you and to make life better for you. So we don't want to get in the way of that. We appreciate that you've undergone some burdens, but we hope that will change, and when you make this last bid, it will work out very well for you.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
Thank you, Mr. Komarnicki.
For the record, there is sharing of time. That particular amendment was defeated when it came up, and the clerk tells me there is the sharing of time. Anyway, we can square that away some other time.
Mr. Karygiannis.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you for coming.
I realize you did go to Citizenship in Halifax yesterday, and there was some—
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
—in Ottawa--and you were told an announcement is coming from the minister today. There's certainly something in the news to that effect.
However, in order for somebody to get citizenship, that individual has to go through background checks, police clearance by the RCMP and CSIS. Have you been made aware of how long that usually takes?
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
The RCMP is eight months. CSIS could be up to a year. So you're probably about a year out before you do get your citizenship.
11:50 a.m.
As an Individual
So in my mother's situation, she's looking at a year to get her citizenship card?
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
If she is not a citizen. Unless the minister has made some special deals with her counterparts in the RCMP and CSIS to move your files quickly, you still have to go through background checks.
So, Ms. Galbraith, you could be looking at a year before you're actually handed your citizenship card.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
You might have to travel on a British passport again.
