Evidence of meeting #18 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 worker.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Roslyn Kunin  Director, British Columbia Office, Canada West Foundation
Martin Collacott  Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
Don DeVoretz  Professor of Economics, Co-Director and Principal Investigator of the Centre of Excellence on Immigration and Integration, Simon Fraser University, Canadian Immigration Policy Council
David Fairey  Researcher, Trade Union Research Bureau, British Columbia and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council
Wayne Peppard  Executive Director, British Columbia and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council
Joe Barrett  Researcher, British Columbia and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council
Lualhati Alcuitas  Grassroots Women
Erika Del Carmen Fuchs  Organizer, Justicia for Migrant Workers--British Columbia
Tung Chan  Chief Executive Officer, S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Denise Valdecantos  Board Member, Philippine Women Centre of BC
Mildred German  Member, Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance - National, Philippine Women Centre of BC
Alex Stojicevic  Chair, National Citizenship and Immigration Law Section, Canadian Bar Association
Carmel Wiseman  Lawyer, Policy and Legal Services Department, Law Society of British Columbia
Nancy Salloum  Chairperson, Canadian Society of Immigration Practitioners
Elie Hani  Vice-Chair, Canadian Society of Immigration Practitioners

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

We have come a long distance to hear these people, who have very important things to put before us. We either respect that or we don't. I am asking committee members to be cooperative.

We set the ground rules before we came here, at a meeting in Ottawa...by your own immigration critic, Mr. Bevilacqua.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

This is not a motion here. This is a democratic process. This is letting the freedom of the press, that you do not want to--

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

Order!

Mr. Carrier, please.

March 31st, 2008 / 1:15 p.m.

Bloc

Robert Carrier Bloc Alfred-Pellan, QC

Mr. Chairman, I was initially in favour of allowing the media to convey as much of the committee's proceedings as possible. I received some evidence earlier. People are very satisfied with the fact that we are travelling to Vancouver. My colleague and I have come from Montreal specifically to hear the people of British Columbia on a very important subject. Consequently, I was in favour of the media being able to broadcast our discussions as much as possible. However, if there is a Standing Order clearly indicating to us that we must have approval for that to be televised or filmed, I think we must comply with the Standing Orders of our own House of Commons. I think that the media here will nevertheless be able to take notes and to report in their newspapers or respective media on the good work we'll be doing. So it seems to me there is no reason to discuss the value of broadcasting or not, but are we—

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

I agree.

1:15 p.m.

Bloc

Robert Carrier Bloc Alfred-Pellan, QC

—complying with the House Standing Orders or not? So if we hold a vote on the question, we'll vote in favour of the Standing Orders. That's clear.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

Yes. We're not voting because we've already agreed that there would be no motions on the road. There is no motion before this committee. I'm just outlining what we've already agreed to. I'm hoping the committee will respect that and will allow me to go ahead and hear these witnesses today.

Ms. Chow.

1:15 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

I have another point of order.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

I think we have to deal with this one first.

1:15 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

If he wants to finish his first, that's fine, Mr. Chair.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

Okay.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

Andrew Telegdi Liberal Kitchener—Waterloo, ON

Mr. Chair, when I got up I said I had two points.

I would just finish off by saying that you're asking for respect from the committee. Then I'm asking you, as chair, to have respect for the committee. There's a difference between televising a meeting--

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

I think we've been through that, Mr. Telegdi.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

Andrew Telegdi Liberal Kitchener—Waterloo, ON

--and doing one for news purposes. I'm letting--

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

I'm asking the committee to wait on this. Let me hear the witnesses today. We have a cross-country tour that's going to take us into 10 provinces. We can contact the House of Commons to see if that can be done.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Why didn't we do this before we started, Mr. Chair?

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

We have a schedule--

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Why don't you call the clerk's office and get a ruling?

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

The ruling is right here, Mr. Karygiannis.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

No. The ruling, the way you want to describe it--

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

The ruling is right here in House of Commons Standing Order 119.1(1).

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Mr. Chair, why don't you suspend for 10 minutes and call the clerk's office and find out?

1:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

I think we have a clear ruling here. I'm going to proceed.

I want to welcome Mr. Collacott—

1:20 p.m.

Liberal

Andrew Telegdi Liberal Kitchener—Waterloo, ON

Mr. Chair, I had a point of order. The second one I wanted to raise—

1:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle

Ms. Chow is first on the list.