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.
9:45 a.m.
As an Individual
That's right. We see a lot down there.
When I crossed the border this time, I was held up for two and a half hours at the border. And the last time I was sent into immigration also. They have me listed in their computer. They can tell me facts about what I have done with respect to applying for citizenship. They know I've been denied. So this last couple of times I've been pulled in at the border. I didn't think I was going to get in.
9:50 a.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
What would happen if you couldn't get back into Canada? Your children are here, right?
9:50 a.m.
As an Individual
No, my children are not here. My daughter was born in Toronto but they are also in the States. We moved to the States because of my husband's work. It was a case of the jobs not being in British Columbia at the time, and he was offered a position with a former employer. So we're now in the States. My daughter is there. I come back every year. I used to come back for elder care for my mother. Today is my dad's birthday.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
9:50 a.m.
As an Individual
I do have a passport, but it's not one that I wish to use. It's a U.S. passport. I had to do something--
9:50 a.m.
As an Individual
Yes, I do. I had to do that for the requirement after 9/11. You needed to have a passport. I had never intended to take out U.S. citizenship. I had never intended to do that. Canada has always been my home of heart, and to me, until I was denied in 2005, I always considered myself Canadian.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Thank you.
Ms. Wong and then Mr. Dykstra. You both have up to seven minutes.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Alice Wong Conservative Richmond, BC
Thank you very much for coming.
To Mr. Chapman, it's my understanding that my colleague Mr. John Weston has been looking after this case, and he has been helping you, assisting you, for the past four years. Can you let us know what he has done for you?
9:50 a.m.
Lost Canadian Organization
Not much. John has not returned all my phone calls.
There are a lot of other people in your party who have been absolutely wonderful. Let's start with John Reynolds. We wouldn't be here today without John Reynolds. He is a real hero of the lost Canadians.
Diane Ablonczy; I can't say enough good about Diane Ablonczy.
If we go further, there are lots of people in your party who have helped me along this way. Senator Kinsella has helped us several times with Bill S-2, Bill S-17.
There's Inky Mark. I have a whole list here of quotes from wonderful people of your party who have tried to help us along the way.
I can't say that John Weston has done.... I mean, I haven't seen it.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Alice Wong Conservative Richmond, BC
He did mention to me, though, that he has worked with you for the past four years.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Alice Wong Conservative Richmond, BC
I just wanted to mention that.
That's it. I'll give the time back to Mr. Dykstra.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Thank you.
Through you, Chair, to Mr. Noorani, I do have a couple of questions for you. The way the system works in terms of advertising in your magazine, it may be purchased through a number of ministries of the federal government. You're obviously not the only one who receives advertising dollars from a ministry of the federal government. Would you agree?
9:50 a.m.
Naeem (Nick) Noorani
Absolutely. In fact, the magazine is not owned by me, it's owned by the Toronto Star.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
That's interesting. So would you consider the Toronto Star to be a positive spokesperson for the Conservative government?
9:50 a.m.
Naeem (Nick) Noorani
You know, I eat a Big Mac occasionally, but I don't go out and support McDonald's.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Thank you, Mr. Noorani. I just wanted to clear that up.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Completely. That served its purpose very well, Mr. Chair.
I would like to ask you, though, Mr. Noorani, about your thoughts. You were going to give some further thoughts, and of course, because of the time limit, it was cut down. What are your thoughts on the second-generation born-abroad provisions of the Citizenship Act and Bill C-37?
9:50 a.m.
Naeem (Nick) Noorani
Thank you.
Let's look at it from the opposite perspective. Many Canadians have ties to other countries in terms of cultural heritage, because of grandparents or great grandparents who were immigrants to Canada. But that does not necessarily give those descendants rights in those homelands. At what point in time do we cut this off?
There were eyebrows raised--unfortunately, I'm not on video--about my comment about a marriage of convenience. I want to move beyond party lines. I want to say what's right for our country. That's what we have to start looking at. It's not about politics.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Further to that, do you think the government has struck the proper balance to ensure a connection to Canada from its citizens?
9:55 a.m.
Naeem (Nick) Noorani
I've put out my caveats, and I believe the caveats are around stateless people. The caveats are ensuring that no one is left out from that perspective.
When parents go outside to another country, they have options. They have options that the child can be born in Canada. These are options all of us have. We take options. We take opportunities for economic reasons, but we can't expect to come back 100 years later and have the house still warm and the fireside burning.
June 11th, 2009 / 9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
We have a piece of legislation...and I listened to the predicaments of Mr. Neal, Ms. Scott, and Mr. Gélinas. If you were to suggest how we could move forward in a stronger way with Bill C-37 in terms of addressing some of their concerns--and forgive me, this is the first time I've met or been introduced to the three of them--it sounds to me that whether it's for their daughter or for themselves, their wish and their passion is to have Canadian citizenship.
They believe that Bill C-37 gave them that opportunity. It doesn't sound as though anyone disagrees with the legislation but there is disagreement or concern around carrying out the interpretation of it. Do you have any suggestions as to how we could strengthen that from a ministry perspective?
9:55 a.m.
Naeem (Nick) Noorani
Was that directed to me?