Evidence of meeting #4 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 karygiannis.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Andrew Chaplin

10:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Mr. Bevilacqua.

10:10 a.m.

Liberal

Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON

Yes, Mr. Chairman, you will find that this motion presented by Mr. Jim Karygiannis enjoys the support of the committee-not only do we support this, we won't refer this to the subcommittee--that the steering committee incorporate this in its work schedule.

10:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Ms. Wong.

10:10 a.m.

Conservative

Alice Wong Conservative Richmond, BC

First of all, I had some concern about the wording in the motion itself. You say in line 3, if I read correctly, “and other relevant witnesses to enquire into ever-increasing processing times related to immigration timelines from posts around the world”. Before you have done any studies, you have already presumed they are ever-increasing. Coming from the research world, I think you don't fix your conclusion first before you go to find out whether it's true or not. So that alone has already created some challenges from me. If you want to find out something, you don't pre-assume it's ever-increasing.

10:15 a.m.

Liberal

Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON

Get rid of “ever-increasing”; change it to “into processing times”.

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

Alice Wong Conservative Richmond, BC

That's one challenge.

10:15 a.m.

Liberal

Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON

Okay, we have that out of the way.

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Mr. Karygiannis, are you okay with that?

10:15 a.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

No.

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

He's not okay with that.

Carry on with your debate, Ms. Wong.

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

Alice Wong Conservative Richmond, BC

How can you say that it's ever-increasing when we do have proof that in some areas it has already been improving? You have already ruled out the possibility that your statements are not true and your data are drawn from the wrong time or the wrong place.

I'm sorry, Mr. Chair, it really doesn't make sense to me when you have already pre-assumed certain findings before you even go out to find something.

The second question is that the data he was using in here actually were old data. When you compare, you have to have a reason to compare the time--what time versus what time--and so the data are misleading.

Another thing is that I think this is not the proper venue to raise study ideas. He has already asked many questions in the first informal meeting about processing time. I think that has been answered.

I propose that this be referred to the subcommittee on agenda and procedure. This committee is not the place to do this very important study.

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

We have a motion to refer--no debate. We'll go to the question.

(Motion agreed to)

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

This motion is referred with the others.

We're working our way through, Mr. Karygiannis. I wish you luck on the last two.

10:15 a.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

I am going to withdraw the other ones.

10:15 a.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

That's not a study.

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

The other motions, two and three, are withdrawn.

Excuse me, is there something happening here?

10:15 a.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Yes, there is something happening, and I think I'd like a point of order, if I can.

These motions were duly brought to the committee, and for a member to say that one, three, and four, or one, four, and five, and automatically make up his mind and signal it.... Well, if that individual wants to signal that, it's fine by him. But it's also my privilege, if I want to withdraw the motion, to do so.

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Sir, I have agreed with you. You have withdrawn those motions. If someone else wants to serve notice of motion, the same ones, they're free to do that.

Do you have a point of order, Mr. Dykstra?

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON

No.

10:15 a.m.

Liberal

Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON

On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to ask for unanimous consent to reintroduce motion number three, presented by Mr. Jim Karygiannis.

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Perhaps I can confer with the clerk.

Mr. Bevilacqua, you have the floor.

10:15 a.m.

Liberal

Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON

Basically, I'm reintroducing the same motion.

10:15 a.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Chair, just allow me to say this. Unfortunately sometimes motions run a bit, so I'd like to take my withdrawal back.

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

I'm sorry, what would you like to take back?

10:15 a.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

The motion to kill the motions. I made a statement that I didn't want to deal....