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.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Mr. Karygiannis, I have a document that you have served on the clerk. There are five parts to it. Which parts of those are you suggesting?
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Fine. Can I take a look, please?
Can I read them into the record?
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
On a point of order, Chair, I thought we were going to go in camera. I would like to know what the agenda of the committee is. We're getting into a motion here when we don't even know what our agenda is.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
I tried that and failed. We're discussing business in open session, which is unusual, but the committee can do whatever it wants.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Okay, but why are we getting involved in a motion when we don't even know what our agenda is for the next three or four meetings?
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
As I understand it, Mr. Karygiannis wants the subcommittee to take under consideration his motion or motions.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
I'd like to read out two motions:
4. That this Committee review the fast-tracking of family class immigration applications from Haiti and call as witnesses officials of the Department of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism and stakeholders; and, that pursuant to Standing Order 108(1), any findings and recommendations based thereon be reported to the House. 5. That, in the opinion of the Committee, the government should deport no one to Haiti until a safe environment exists there; that the Committee adopt this recommendation as a report to the House and that, pursuant to Standing order 108(1), the Chair present it to the House.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Can I ask whether everyone agrees that the subcommittee take Mr. Karygiannis's motion under consideration? Is there disagreement on that?
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
I'm trying to keep this informal. If we're going to have to get formal, we're--
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Yes, I know, but we don't support the motion as it stands. I don't want to be unfair to Mr. Karygiannis and say yes, sure, we'll send it to the subcommittee. We're not supporting the motion as it is.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
That's motion 5.
There are two parts to this. One is that we call for witnesses and the second is that we don't deport anybody. Which part don't you support?
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
We are going to have to start to get formal here. I was trying to get some informality--
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Number one, you're going to have to address your comments through me.
Mr. Karygiannis has the floor.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Chair, the motions are pretty straightforward. We want to hear from the department. We want to hear from stakeholders on what they are facing.
The second motion is that we don't deport anybody to Haiti--unless they have a criminal record, if you want me to put that in there--because as far as deporting people to Haiti goes, they don't have a place to go. Traditionally, we don't deport anybody when areas are in turmoil. In Haiti right now, that is a foregone conclusion. It is in turmoil.
That's the motion I'm putting forward. I'm seeking consent to send it to the subcommittee in order for it to be considered.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Okay, listen. First of all, I'm going to say on your motion that.... And I'm sorry, but I was trying to keep this informal and we can't. We're getting out of control. The motion on the floor from Mr. Dykstra is that the subcommittee meet on Thursday, and yours, which I assume is an amendment, is out of order.
You can bring in a motion after. We've voted on that. But what we are going to vote on now, what is before the committee now, is whether the subcommittee will or will not meet on Thursday.
Mr. St-Cyr and then Ms. Chow.
3:55 p.m.
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
I want to move an amendment to Mr. Dykstra's motion.
Instead of having the subcommittee meet Thursday, I suggest that we meet Tuesday, after the meeting with the minister, that we adjourn immediately afterwards, to let the members of the subcommittee meet informally immediately afterwards and put together an agenda. The agenda could be adopted in five minutes on Tuesday. That would allow us to start our work on Thursday.
In short, the amendment consists of holding the subcommittee meeting Tuesday after the full committee meeting, instead of Thursday, and adjourning immediately afterwards so that the critics could meet informally to prepare Thursday's agenda.