Mr. Chair, as I have, Mr. Karygiannis has been a member on this committee for a number of years, so I believe he should therefore understand that there is a time-honoured procedure for bringing forward proposals for study topics. The subcommittee on agenda and procedure recommends how the committee should proceed to consider its orders and references and advice on such topics, and to select witnesses and schedule meetings. This is a venue for discussing the future business of this committee.
I don't know how his party works, but I know how mine works. If I think there is an important matter that needs the consideration of this committee, I approach my colleagues on the steering committee and make my case. By doing so, I do not take up the precious time of this committee. We meet for only four hours in a week, and we have a lot of work to get through, and we have a lot of issues to consider, so we owe it to our fellow committee members not to waste their time with unnecessary business.
The motion in question reads:
That this committee undertake a study of the criteria used when awarding funding to community organizations
Who are they? We don't know.
assist new Canadians as they make Canada their new home; and, that pursuant to Standing Order 108(1), any findings and recommendations based thereon be reported to the House.
Maybe there is some merit to this topic, and maybe there is not, but really, Mr. Chair, I believe that rather than considering the funding criteria, maybe it would be more useful to consider how the money is being used and whether new immigrants are receiving the help they need from these organizations and whether the government is getting good value for the money.
Mr. Karygiannis feels this funding offers greater relevance. As with the previous motion from Mr. Karygiannis, I suggest that this motion would be better left to the steering committee.