Evidence of meeting #1 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Andrew Chaplin

February 3rd, 2009 / 9:05 a.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Andrew Chaplin

Honourable members of the committee,

I see a quorum. We can now proceed to the election of a chair. I'm ready to receive motions to that effect.

Mr. Dykstra.

9:05 a.m.

Conservative

Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON

I move Mr. David Tilson as chair of the citizenship and immigration and multicultural committee.

9:05 a.m.

The Clerk

It has been moved by Mr. Dykstra that Mr. Tilson be elected as chair of the committee. Are there any further motions?

The committee has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

9:05 a.m.

Conservative

Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON

Actually, could I get a recorded vote on that, please?

9:05 a.m.

The Clerk

All right.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 12; nays 0)

Mr. Tilson is elected chair of the committee.

9:05 a.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

9:05 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

We continue on with the elections.

9:05 a.m.

The Clerk

If that's the case, then, sir, I would suggest that you want to stay in your seat, because you're supposed to be able to vote in the election of the vice-chairs.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Does anyone care? Nobody cares, Mr. Clerk.

Or is there an objection? Would you like me to return to...?

9:10 a.m.

An hon. member

No, stay.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Okay. We'll continue on with the two vice-chairs.

So it's one vice-chair, and what's the other position called?

9:10 a.m.

The Clerk

They describe it as first vice-chair and second vice-chair.

I'm now prepared to receive motions--

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

No, I am, sir.

I am prepared to receive motions for the vice-chair.

9:10 a.m.

Liberal

Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON

I nominate Jim Karygiannis.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Jim Karygiannis is--

9:10 a.m.

An hon. member

Seconded.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

We don't require seconders, do we? No.

Are there other nominations for this position?

9:10 a.m.

Bloc

Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC

Mr. Chair, I will not be able to support Mr. Karygiannis' nomination for that position. I know that it is the Liberals' by tradition. Could you tell me if I can make a proposal now or if we are going to vote first?

Perhaps I should start again, Mr. Chair.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

We have a procedural problem here. Maybe I'd better return to my seat, because I don't want to get in the middle of this before I even sit down in this thing.

So I'm going to go back whence I came, and the clerk will continue on with the elections.

9:10 a.m.

The Clerk

Moved by Mr. Bevilacqua that Mr. Karygiannis be elected first vice-chair of the committee. Are there any other motions?

Mr. St-Cyr.

9:10 a.m.

Bloc

Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC

I am going to vote against Mr. Karygiannis being elected vice-chair. I am aware that, by tradition, the position goes to a Liberal. Should we defeat this motion first and, if need be, propose another member, or should we propose another member now and let the committee decide the matter?

9:10 a.m.

The Clerk

At this stage, I can only receive motions to elect the first vice-chair. If there are two nominations, we immediately move to a secret ballot.

9:10 a.m.

Bloc

Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC

Fine. So I am going to propose Mr. Bevilacqua.

9:10 a.m.

The Clerk

Moved by Mr. St-Cyr that Mr. Bevilacqua be elected first vice-chair of the committee.

Are there any other motions?

At this point, we'll proceed to a vote by secret ballot. I will distribute to each of you a ballot, on which I would ask that you mark the name of the person you choose. My colleague will pass by with the ballot box, and you can then deposit the ballot in the box.

9:15 a.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

In order to expedite things, I think I will decline the nomination and let Mr. Bevilacqua go ahead with it.