Citizenship and Immigration Committee on March 5th, 2008

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

The amendment is out of order.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

I will move it separately, then, because--

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

We'll deal with Mr. Karygiannis's motion first.

[The Clerk]

The problem is the choice of that particular one. If the (S) indicates it's statutory, and those are the ones over which the committee--

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Okay.

Is there further discussion on Mr. Karygiannis's motion?

[An hon. member]

Call the question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Mr. St-Cyr.

[Thierry St-Cyr, Bloc, Jeanne-Le Ber, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I'm pleased to see that, today, after all this time, the Liberals are finally prepared to bring down the government. That said, this is a strange and not very responsible way of doing it. Apart from bluffing, I don't believe we can pass appropriations without examining them, but I don't think it's very responsible to defeat those appropriations without having studied them.

I would like the parliamentary secretary to tell us whether the minister intends to come and see us and, if so, when. We'll adjust to that. If she wants to come tomorrow, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, we'll be here. We'll be here, but we have to know. It seems to me that would be a minimum level of professionalism.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

We are still on discussion of Mr. Karygiannis's motion.

Mr. Bevilacqua.

[Maurizio Bevilacqua, Liberal, Vaughan, ON]

First of all, I want to make sure that all avenues are exhausted before we move towards this vote, which means that I would ask the parliamentary secretary and also the clerk to get some better story on exactly what has transpired vis-à-vis our requisition.

I know for a fact that ministers know they have to appear in front of parliamentary committees for estimates. It's tradition. As well, we sometimes hear from parliamentary secretaries or secretaries of state. There are lots of opportunities to address estimates.

So I would like to ask the parliamentary secretary if in fact—

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

Can I amend my motion?

[Maurizio Bevilacqua, Liberal, Vaughan, ON]

—we can explore other avenues vis-à-vis the appearance of the minister.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Okay, Mr. Karygiannis, why don't we ask you?

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

I would like to amend my motion, if I can, Chair, that unless the minister is in front of us within 24 hours, we'll negative the estimates.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

So you want to change your motion—

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

We'll give the minister an opportunity of 24 hours, starting the clock at 4:30 today, or at the start of the committee at 3:30.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

To give the minister a chance to come before the committee.

Mr. Karygiannis wishes to change his motion. He moved that the supplementary estimates be negatived if the minister does not appear before the committee within 24 hours.

(Motion negatived)

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Now can we get along to budgetary matters?

That wasn't on the agenda, by the way, and there's always a danger in adding things to the agenda that are not on there.

Mr. Telegdi.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Chair, I propose a motion that this committee express its grave concern to the House on the minister not coming before this committee to defend her estimates, bring it to.... Well, obviously it would be brought to the Speaker's attention. We would just say that this is not acceptable parliamentary procedure and a dereliction of duty on the part of the minister.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Okay, you've heard the motion.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

I have an amendment: “and further, that the motion be reported to the House of Commons”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Mr. Telegdi already said that.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Okay, but also I want to add as a very friendly amendment that this committee never had the opportunity to study the estimates, which is true.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

I think that's pretty well contained in Mr. Telegdi's motion.

Is that the gist of your motion?

I don't know why we have to make things so complicated. Mr. Telegdi came up with a motion that seems pretty straightforward, and amending it to read the same thing is not of any great value to anyone.

So may I call Mr. Telegdi's motion, please?

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

Can we have it read?