Evidence of meeting #39 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 c-50.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:02 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
Let's get back on track on here. The meeting is now in session again.
There seems to be some consensus that we ditch this whole plan we have here today, as it's not working out, and that we bring our witnesses in. I don't know what kind of problem that would entail, but I'm open to suggestions.
Mr. Karygiannis.
4:02 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Chair, certainly face-to-face representation adds value. Not only that, but it also gives the witnesses an opportunity to interact with us and for us to interact with them.
However, Mr. Chair, if we were to do this.... We've already lost two days. I think that it's only responsible of us to move the May 16 line to after the break, when we come back after the long week. Two days are gone.
4:02 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
Yes, any lost days we have would need to be added to the agenda at the other end.
Could people tell me if that's the general consensus? Do you want to do that?
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
We've lost two days. Is that the general consensus? If it's not, I want to get a consensus here before we decide to do that.
I don't see any hands going up, other than Mr. Bevilacqua's.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON
Mr. Chairman, it's clear to us that any day that is lost—this is so that we're clear on our understanding—will be added. In other words, we will not be reporting to the finance committee, for example. If we lose the 16th, we're going to have to have two extra days. I think it's only fair that we do that.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Chair, I think you should also report it to the House.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
I think we should try to schedule them in for next week, if you want the two meetings to happen, and let's have it done for a report Friday.
I've heard Mr. Karygiannis and others say I should do a dissenting report by the next day. I think we didn't have meetings scheduled for Tuesday. We do now, to replace the other day, so we haven't lost anything. We didn't have a meeting last week for Thursday, and we can schedule one in, get it done next week, report it to the House on Friday before we leave. Otherwise this thing will just continue on and on for no good reason.
We have two days to fill in for next week. Let's do it next week. I think Mr. Bevilacqua said that if you've lost a day, add a day. We are already doing that for the minister and the officials. Let's do it next week; let's put in a full week and get it done. If we drag this thing out, it's just going to become more convoluted. We need to get it done.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
I said to the clerk that what we will do is try to get the witnesses here as quickly as possible. We can't expect the clerk to do miracles here, but if he can get these people in an expeditious way here before the committee, and we can do it all next week, then fine. If not, then we would have to go to the week following after the break.
4:05 p.m.
An hon. member
That is fair. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
I heard Mr. Komarnicki say we should be adding meetings on Thursday. With all due respect, people have lives and schedules to follow, and adding—
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
Yes, I agree. I would vote with you on that.
We will leave it to the clerk to try to bring these people in as quickly as is humanly possible. If not, then we would have to extend our meetings past the break week, would we not?
Is that the general consensus?
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Chairman, would you advise the finance committee that we have technical difficulties and might need extra time?
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
Thank you.
I would simply like to remind members of the committee and Mr. Komarnicki who are worried about the arrangements with the Finance Committee that if our report is produced on the Friday before we leave for the break, it will have to be dealt with when we return.
Do you have no translation?
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
Well, I'll make an exception.
I just said that if we produce the report on the Friday before we leave, in any case the finance committee will have to undertake its deliberation when we are back after the break. Even if we shift one day ahead on Monday after the break, it will not have a huge impact at the other end of the legislative process.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Andrew Telegdi Liberal Kitchener—Waterloo, ON
Also, Mr. Chair, we had some witnesses who were supposed to be on who aren't on. I would imagine it's because Barbara Jackman—I don't see her name—
