Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 11th, 2009

Evidence of meeting #22 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 child.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Review of the subject-matter of Bill C-37, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act, enacted in Second Session of the 39th Parliament

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Ken Neal As an Individual

Don Chapman Lost Canadian Organization

Marcel Gélinas As an Individual

Naeem Nick) Noorani (Founder/Publisher, Canadian Immigrant Magazine

Jacqueline Scott As an Individual

Dorinda Cavanaugh Director, Terre des hommes - Pour les enfants et Terre des hommes Ontario

Allan Nichols Executive Director, Concerned Group Representative, Canadian Expat Association

Sandra Forbes Executive Director, Children's Bridge

Sarah Pedersen Acting Executive Director, Adoption Council of Canada

Andrew Bilski Concerned adoptive parent, As an Individual

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Okay.

In the case of Marcel Gélinas, is it the same thing?

9:45 a.m.

As an Individual

Marcel Gélinas

Yes.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

You were denied also?

9:45 a.m.

As an Individual

Marcel Gélinas

Yes.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Marcel, do you know the reason you were denied and when were you denied?

9:45 a.m.

As an Individual

Marcel Gélinas

It was in February.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Do you mean February of this year?

9:45 a.m.

As an Individual

Marcel Gélinas

It was this year, yes.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Why? Were your parents...?

9:45 a.m.

As an Individual

Marcel Gélinas

Both my parents were born in Canada. They were married in Canada. My entire ancestry is in Quebec.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Your entire.... Yes, I can tell from your last name. Your grandparents are from Quebec and your parents were born in Canada, but you were denied this year, in 2009, by the department?

9:45 a.m.

As an Individual

Marcel Gélinas

Yes.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Was it also by the minister?

9:45 a.m.

Lost Canadian Organization

Don Chapman

No.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

No. Then tomorrow the minister, if he chooses to, can enact Governor in Council and grant under subsection 5(4) in these special cases. Am I correct?

9:45 a.m.

Lost Canadian Organization

Don Chapman

That is absolutely correct.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

That would solve the 71--

9:45 a.m.

Lost Canadian Organization

Don Chapman

It solves the problem. It was promised; however, the minister turned it over to the bureaucrats, and the bureaucrats denied it. A ministerial permit is for the minister, not the bureaucrats. He has somewhat abdicated the responsibility for these cases and turned it over.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Am I correct in understanding that all 71 cases applied and were denied by the department?

9:45 a.m.

Lost Canadian Organization

Don Chapman

We have 65 Mennonites who are in limbo, and his daughter is in limbo, so we don't know about them. The others have all been denied.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Jacqueline, how did it feel when this gentleman on the phone who runs the magazine said that it could be citizenship by convenience? I saw your expression when he mentioned that, and you covered your mouth. Can you tell me what you felt at that time?

9:45 a.m.

As an Individual

Jacqueline Scott

I can tell you that it's not a convenience. It's my nationality. It represents the right to call Canada my home and to let everybody know that's where I'm from and that I'm proud to be a Canadian. When I'm asked what my citizenship is now, how can I answer? I don't know. I'm not comfortable where I live. I don't feel connected with where I live. Canada has always had that loyalty.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Where do you live?

9:45 a.m.

As an Individual

Jacqueline Scott

We're snowbirds. We're half of the time in B.C. and we spend half the time, the winters, in Arizona.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

You and many other Canadians.