Evidence of meeting #1 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was subcommittee.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
As I understand it, you're right that.... I assume that we all want to deal with estimates. The only time the minister is available is March 16.
Liberal
Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON
Perhaps I can suggest the following: that this committee obviously accept the minister's attendance for Tuesday, and that the subcommittee meet on Thursday.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
You know what? I have no problem with that.
We're starting to discuss business in an open session. If you want to do that, that's fine with me too.
If everybody agrees with that, Mr. Bevilacqua, I have no problem with that.
Liberal
Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON
Well, I would imagine that everybody wants to hear from the minister on Tuesday.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Okay, we're into....
I have Mr. Dykstra first, then Mr. Karygiannis, and then Ms. Chow.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Congratulations, by the way, on being elected our chair again.
I do want to comment very quickly. I don't think we need to go in camera. I think what we are all agreeing to is that the minister will be here on Tuesday. Normally he is here for an hour to speak to estimates.
I don't know if I need to do this by way of a motion, but I would also suggest that the minister appear here on Tuesday to speak to estimates and respond to questions for the period of an hour, and that we use our Thursday time slot as the opportunity for the subcommittee to meet regarding agenda.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
I have several people now: Ms. Chow, Mr. Karygiannis, and then Monsieur St-Cyr.
Conservative
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Okay. My suggestion is that we would hear from the minister on Tuesday and that our subcommittee members meet on Tuesday after the minister's meeting for half an hour. I don't think it would take a long time.
So on Tuesday in the late afternoon we would come up with the plan, and then we'd deal with it on Thursday. That's my suggestion. Because if you have the subcommittee meeting on Thursday, then next Thursday's meeting would be missed by the entire committee.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Chair, first of all, congratulations on being elected chair.
I also congratulate the two vice-chairs.
I'd like to suggest that we do accept the minister coming here on Tuesday. I've put forward a motion that I think has been received. It has to do with Haiti. I just want the indulgence of the committee. Haiti is very much in our minds, as are the people from Haiti who are coming up to Canada. I would like to seek unanimous consent--or maybe I don't need to--to take that motion into consideration and have the subcommittee study it and put it in the plans somewhere.
We need to hear from the department about what is happening in Haiti, how they're dealing with Haiti, and what we need to do regarding Haiti. Since this is something that is of concern all of us and to the people down there, maybe this is something that we need to deal with first. The subcommittee can ask the department to come and give us information and can consider asking stakeholders to come. That could probably be the first item of business we do. I do know there's a motion. I'm not sure if the clerk received it on time, but maybe we can deal with that and send it to the subcommittee in order to have it plotted out, along with other business.
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
I am not sure whether there is an official motion on the table. If not, so that we can move forward, I move that the meeting with the minister be held on Tuesday. On Thursday, the subcommittee could meet to plan the committee's business for the next few months. We could start with committee business on Tuesday, beginning with the adoption of the report. As we know, when the four parties agree in subcommittee, it is practically a given that the committee will adopt the subcommittee's report.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Well, I think he has a motion and then we have an amendment and.... Let's just keep talking for a little bit and it will all come to light.
Mr. Coderre.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Chair, first I would like to congratulate you on your election, as well as our two vice-chairs.
I think we need to be practical. The minister will be here, and we accept that, but I do not think we need to wait until Thursday for the subcommittee to meet. That makes no sense. We have a reality right now called Haiti. I have worked with the minister. It is not a partisan issue. The fact remains that immigration is currently a reality. If we put off the subcommittee meeting to Thursday, it means that we will not be able to discuss the issue before Tuesday.
I do not see a problem in moving things along quickly. As Olivia said, we could take a half-hour after the meeting with the minister for members of the subcommittee to meet and start work right away. We can find a way to start working on the file on Thursday. It is a matter of compassion. I am not sure what is happening in your part of the country, but in mine, we are currently dealing with this reality. We will ask the minister questions, that is for sure. I just want us to be able to work in a constructive manner. It is not partisanship; it is a priority and an urgent situation.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
We seem to have done this before. I guess one of the problems is time. I have House duty on Tuesday, but I guess you can get out of anything if you want to.
Okay. I sense the motion is that we hear the minister and his officials on Tuesday, and that at some time on Tuesday, immediately after that, we have--