Evidence of meeting #19 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 list.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I'm not privileged to discuss the particular thresholds, but we've essentially said that if you have x volume of claims over a period of time, and you have a low acceptance rate, we will then—
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Chair, stop the clock, please.
When I'm asking questions and my colleagues across the way have something to say, could they say it through you or please refrain from speaking?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
No, no. Don't... He's right.
Please calm down.
The clock is on, Mr. Karygiannis.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Thank you, Chair.
How often will we assess these countries? Every year, once a year, every six months, every seven months, if there's a spike...? If you had civil war in a country, if you had a dictatorship in a country, and we had it on a safe list and suddenly people started coming in from that country, would you be able to respond to that quickly?
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Yes, absolutely. A minister could de-designate a country instantly in response to a change in country conditions. If a civil war broke out tomorrow in Germany, and Germany was on the list of safe countries, the minister could, the day after, de-designate Germany as a safe country.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Yes.
Why are we bent on having this safe country of origin? The minister is given advice. You are probably giving him advice--I would say that this is the expert panel--and most of the ministers do what they're told most of the time--or they take your advice. Why would your panel be so adamant about the safe country of origin? What's driving you?
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
As the minister has said a number of times, what's driving the safe country of origin provision is the need to address very serious and significant spikes in largely unfounded claims from countries that don't normally produce refugees.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Last question, Chair.
How many countries that you're aware of--
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
No, no. The clock has run out almost completely.
Mr. St-Cyr, you have a minute, maybe two.
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
The minister promised to give us a draft of the regulations before the clause-by-clause consideration, which will be next Tuesday. When will we be receiving it?
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
My understanding is that the minister is going to table the draft regulations when he comes to committee on Monday.
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Is that when he's coming? Yes.
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
You expect the committee to examine the draft regulations within 24 hours and then proceed with the clause-by-clause consideration to determine what will be included in the bill?
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
That's when the minister has decided to bring the regulations.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
I'm going to stop right there, because this further adds to the confusion.
I need direction from the committee. You've raised a point. I'm sure others will have some thoughts. I have met the legislative clerk, who has asked me about amendments. She has requested--and this will add to your remarks--that all amendments to the bill from members of the committee be filed with the clerk by May 31, which is Monday, at 3:30.
Conservative
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
At the last meeting we said that we would have some discussion among parties about possible amendments. We were going to do that on Tuesday morning, which is the day after the 3:30 Monday deadline. The 3:30 Monday deadline won't work unless somehow on Monday morning.... It would be difficult for us to figure out and put together what the amendments we could put together. I have a list of amendments and I could just send it in, but that wasn't what we were talking about last week. It was Tuesday actually, so it doesn't sound right.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Thank you very much.
First of all, I'm going to excuse all of you. I thank you very much for coming and elaborating on these issues. Thank you kindly.
The meeting is not adjourned because we are going to talk about what the committee wants me to do here.
Have you finished, Ms. Chow?