Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Nov. 22nd, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Order. We are now in public session.

Could we have Ms. Faille give us the motion again, please?

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

Mr. Chair, we've had some discussion and I think we will end up supporting the motion as it is, but reluctantly. I want it on the record that notwithstanding that I think it's unreasonable, given our agenda and the fact that we'll be doing it on December 13, we will support the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Are you ready for the vote?

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

Do you want to read the motion?

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Madam Faille, would you read the motion again, please?

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

The motion reads as follows:

That official representatives of Citizenship and Immigration Canada appear before the committee on December 13, 2007 and submit, by December 11, 2007, a history of regularization programs, statistics and a detailed report on undocumented workers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Thank you, Madam Faille.

(Motion agreed to)

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

Was that in camera?

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

That was public.

We will now go in camera again.

[Proceedings continue in camera]

[Public proceedings resume]

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

We're no longer in camera.

Let's try to get this amendment done.

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

Mr. Chair, I would ask that you take us back in camera or I'm going to challenge your ruling. I don't think you can, at the whim of one member, end our in camera proceedings. I don't think so, sir.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

I'll get direction from the clerk here.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Andrew Chaplin]

On a motion to sit in public or to sit in camera, the question is put without debate. It's put immediately and it's decided by a majority of the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Does that apply to going in camera or to public?

[The Clerk]

It applies to both. Whether you're going in or out, it's done with the consent of the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

You're saying this committee has to give consent to move in camera or to resume public proceedings.

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

You've got to move us back in camera. Are we in camera right now or not?

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Is there consent to resume public proceedings?

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

There's no consent.

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

I'll withdraw the amendment at this point.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Order, please.

Do you wish to withdraw the amendment?

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

I'll withdraw it and I'll place it as a notice of motion when we become public, which is totally in order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

We will proceed in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]