Evidence of meeting #3 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 application.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Well, vote for the subamendment and then don't support the amendment.
I'll just put it on the record that I notice it doesn't matter how we assist the government, because I heard they're going to vote against the motion anyway. I don't think it makes any difference whatsoever, because it sounds like there's no intention of assisting folks in Canada not to get deported.
Conservative
Conservative
Liberal
Alexandra Mendes Liberal Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Ms. Wong's?
That's what she said: that the government would have a possibility to respond. That's it. It's passed. That one is done.
NDP
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
We voted on the 30 days. We still have to vote on Ms. Wong's amendment. That's the chair's position. Is there any debate on that?
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Now we're on to the motion as amended.
Further debate on the motion as amended?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Yes, on the motion as amended. It's a recorded vote.
(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Now, Ms. Cheung, Ms. Chow, do you have....?I have to get my Wongs and Cheungs and...I'm sorry. I shouldn't--
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Can you remove things from the record? Probably not.
Ms. Chow, do you have another motion?
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
No problem.
I'll move that the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration reaffirm its previous position on Iraq war resisters and resubmit the following motion to Parliament:
The committee recommends that the government immediately implement a program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members (partners and dependants) who have refused or left military service related to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations and do not have a criminal record to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and that the government should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions that may have already commenced against such individuals.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Thank you, Ms. Chow.
Debate?
Do you have any comments to make on the motion?
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
I don't need to comment much, because this has been very high-profile in the media. There are war resisters and their families facing deportation: Jeremy Hinzman's, with two kids, and Kim Rivera's, with two children, one a newborn baby. Already, two American war resisters have been deported. One of them is in jail already. It's quite a sad situation. Some of them have been in Canada for five years.
It's quite a sad situation. Patrick Hart, in my riding, has been volunteering. He'd been in the army for eight years and was a good soldier, but just did not want to continue to kill civilians in Iraq. I respect that kind of courage in making the decision to leave their families and come to Canada. Watching their deportation is really quite sad. Canada had a humanitarian tradition; we had 50,000 in Canada.
Anyway, I think other members want to support this, so I'll leave it in front of you. I really do not believe that we need the government to respond on this motion, because the government has been responding by speeding up their deportations. In fact, the minister has said that these people are not refugees. Even without considering their cases, it was said in a blanket way that they are not refugees, so I see no reason for any response whatsoever. I'm just predicting what motion might be coming, so I don't need to repeat myself.
