Evidence of meeting #28 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 case.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
No, no, I created a new rule and now I withdraw it.
I think our time has come to an end, ladies and gentlemen.
Gentlemen, I appreciate your both coming. Now the committee is going to have a clause-by-clause review. There's only one clause.
Thank you very much for coming.
10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to start the second hour of this committee, which is clause-by-clause consideration.
Mr. Dykstra has put me on notice that he wishes to make a notice of motion on something.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Yes. I have to speak on the issue prior to moving to clause-by-clause.
I do appreciate the fact that we've been at this for a while in terms of dealing with the bill. We've actually had two pretty interesting sessions in regard to our witnesses. I'm suggesting that for any of the witnesses we've heard from, from all of the parties involved, regardless of which party you happen to represent, there is a strong desire. Obviously, regardless of the positions that our witnesses have taken with respect to the private member's bill, each and every one of them have indicated that there needs to be an update, if you will, on new legislation introduced in regard to this whole issue of asylum seeking in this country, of refugees making claim here.
I'm simply asking the committee to consider not voting against this. I know that all parties have made up their minds in terms of how they're going to vote, or all individuals have. I'm just going to respectfully move and ask this committee to support, and based on the minister's intention to move forward with a package of reforms to the refugee system, which may actually include an appeals mechanism suitable to members of this committee, that pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(1) this committee request a 30-day extension for consideration of this bill.
10 a.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Thank you, Chair.
I hear what Mr. Dykstra, the parliamentary secretary, is saying. Certainly in the last couple of days there have been some heightened tensions and some celebrated cases of people seeking refugee status, and the minister has jumped in and made some comments, pretty well putting a prejudice on the case and not letting the system work on itself. We have the boatload of refugees who have come from Sri Lanka, and the minister has already jumped and made the decision and has given directions to the people about which way they should be moving, influencing the outcome of this. Certainly this is not the place of the minister.
Now I hear Mr. Dykstra saying he wants another 30 days. Well, do you know what? I personally think we've done due diligence on this. We heard it. It was from last summer. I have to give Mr. St-Cyr credit for bringing this forward. I don't think we can afford another 30 days. This is something we examined. The committee has to move on its own. When the minister comes forward with amendments or changes and all those things, we will discuss it then.
I don't see why we should wait until the minister makes up his mind. This committee is a master of its own direction and therefore we should let the committee deal with where we want to go. When the minister decides where he wants to go, then he can tell us what he wants us to examine. I don't think we should be tied to the minister, or what the minister's schedule is, or the minister's press releases, or what the minister's thoughts are.
10 a.m.
Conservative
10 a.m.
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
I do not think that this is a matter for debate. I just want to remind the parliamentary secretary that the bill sets out a one-year implementation period. I do not think the government needs a year and 30 days to implement its bill, not including the time needed to have it passed by the Senate. Even if we can agree that the system is in need of a comprehensive review, there is nothing in the bill to prevent us from walking and chewing gum at the same time.
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
The reason for the request is simple. I'm not trying to be strategic in terms of trying to pull something out of the hat here. This is a reasonable request. I'm suggesting that the request is being made based on the fact that we are going to have legislation introduced by the minister. I've stated in my remarks that there is a potential for Mr. St-Cyr's request to be part of that legislation.
I would think that if the committee members can take me at my word on this, there in fact will be the opportunity to debate this legislation at this committee for a good deal of time. I'm simply making a request to delay the vote on this to allow for the minister to implement what everyone around this table has asked for in terms of legislation. I'm not saying everyone's going to agree with that legislation. It's going to come to this committee. We're going to debate that legislation. We're going to obviously move to clause-by-clause on that legislation. It's just a simple request to give us an additional 30 days to allow the minister the time he needs to be able to move forward with respect to that introduction.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Alexandra Mendes Liberal Brossard—La Prairie, QC
If I may, Mr. Chair, I will note that we did give the whole summer to the minister for the introduction of the new legislation. It was upon a request from the government that I withdrew a motion in this same sense. We did have the whole summer. We're now at the end of October. I don't see what 30 days is going to change.
If this bill will be integrated in the legislation the minister is going to propose, all the better, but it won't change anything. It does provide for a year until implementation. It's not something that is going to be requested to be submitted in the next 30 days in the House, so I don't see on what reasonable grounds we'd have to wait another 30 days.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
We heard the submission that many things can be done without having the legislation changed. For example, we could restore the $4 million in cuts inflicted on the refugee board. We could hire more of the permanent refugee protection officers and give them the power to grant approval status. That would fast-track a whole whack of them. It would clear up the backlog and remove political patronage from the appointments at the refugee board. All of that can be done right now by the minister without dealing with the legislative change, so I see no need to delay.
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
On the motion to extend for 30 days, all those in favour?
(Motion negatived)
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Can I ask for a recorded vote?
(Clause 1 agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Okay. Here we go again, Mr. Clerk.
(Title agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)
10:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Mr. Clerk, a recorded vote, please.
(Bill C-291 agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)
10:10 a.m.
Conservative
10:10 a.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
10:10 a.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Andrew Chaplin
There's no reason to ask to reprint the bill, so that question need not be put.