Evidence of meeting #17 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was board.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:05 p.m.
Member, Somaliland Parliament, As an Individual
Please raise your hand, if there is anybody.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
I'm not sure. I'm familiar with Somalia. I was almost there when I went to Africa a few years ago. I don't know about Somaliland.
5:10 p.m.
Member, Somaliland Parliament, As an Individual
What I would like to say is that unfortunately the honourable MPs, except for Jim, don't know anything about Somaliland. That would be a debate for another day, and I won't say more than that.
I would like to comment on one thing. There are Canadians who originally came from Somaliland. Whenever they go back to Somaliland, either for summer vacation or to visit their relatives, they have a problem in Somaliland. Of course, if anything happens to them, there's no other way, or any other...[Inaudible--Editor]...from Canada in Somaliland. Either they have to travel to Addis Ababa or Nairobi, which is very far. At the same time, whenever there are Somalilanders who want to come to Canada, they meet with the same problem.
I would like to ask if there is a way for the Canadian government to organize an office in Somaliland, where there is peace and a functional government. That would facilitate Canadians or Somalilanders who need something from the Canadian government. That's my first comment.
My other comment is that when Somaliland officials--and I'm talking about those who are in Parliament, because we have an elected Parliament--or other government officials want to go outside for something that concerns the government, or when the Somaliland citizens need to go outside for trade or other agreements, they cannot go because our passport is not recognized.
5:10 p.m.
Member, Somaliland Parliament, As an Individual
It's not yet recognized.
I would like to ask if there is a way for the Canadian government to facilitate those officials to come to Canada and to give them visas.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
Do you mean to facilitate a visit for these people to Canada and to give them visas so that they might be able to talk about this particular issue to the Government of Canada?
5:10 p.m.
Member, Somaliland Parliament, As an Individual
Exactly, because our speaker, our chairman of the Somaliland Parliament was trying to come with us to Canada, but the delay in getting his visa did not give him the opportunity to come here.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
Yes, I see your problem. I wish we had a little bit more time to talk to you about it, but we do have votes at 5:30 p.m., and we have another issue on the agenda we have to deal with.
But your point is well taken. I'm sure the members of the committee would certainly like to consider that and maybe, as a committee, make some representation on your behalf to government.
We do have the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration here today. I'm sure he's taken note of your comments and will make the Minister of Immigration aware of them as well.
I want to thank you for coming, and I want to welcome you, on behalf of our committee, to Canada. I hope your stay here will be a very enjoyable one indeed. Thank you.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Chair, there's a lunch tomorrow at noon. Some of you have received notice in your office. Should you want to meet the delegation, by all means, it's at the parliamentary restaurant. You're more than welcome to join us.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Andrew Telegdi Liberal Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
Mr. Chair, I certainly hope you know that we, on the opposition side, are going to make sure there's an adequate number of people on the IRB instead of the shortfall, because we recognize that there are many hearings to be had. Our ability to process the backlog depends on members.
5:10 p.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Mr. Chair, do you normally entertain motions after the witnesses?
What I heard, that the wife has a company, was quite unbelievable. So I was thinking that perhaps we can ask the Ethics Commissioner to come back in May to see whether there's any problem--rather than just picking on one person--and whether the conflict of interest guidelines need to be tightened up a bit.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
I don't think we can do that now. We've already gone in camera. We're trying to deal with a motion here.
5:10 p.m.
A voice
We're still public.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
5:10 p.m.
NDP
5:10 p.m.
Conservative