Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Nov. 3rd, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

We're going to call the meeting to order.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, meeting 31, on Wednesday, November 3, 2010. Pursuant to the order of reference of Thursday, September 23, 2010, we are considering Bill C-35, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

We are into clause-by-clause discussion.

Mr. Wrzesnewskyj has put me on notice that he wishes to....

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

I believe we've done excellent work on this committee on a very important piece of legislation. I think it's demonstrated an ability to work constructively. A number of amendments have been brought in, some yesterday, some as recently as this morning, and this has not allowed for enough consultation.

We want to continue in that collectively consultative spirit, so I think at this point.... I understand that the clerk also had certain issues that arose from these amendments that may be a little more complex than we had envisioned.

I believe that to give proper consideration to the bill and amendments, and to give all parties a chance to work collectively on producing a better piece of legislation, it would serve this committee well to adjourn so that we have a week in which we can concentrate on producing amendments that would work for everyone.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

There is no debate.

All those in favour of adjourning this meeting?

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Adjourning this meeting?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Yes.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

But I thought—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

There's no debate.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

No debate?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

There is no debate on a motion to adjourn.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Chair, yes, there is.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Excuse me.

There has been a motion by Mr. Wrzesnewskyj to adjourn the proceedings, and there is no debate on a motion to adjourn.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair--

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Well, we're right in the middle of a vote. How can we have a point of order in the middle of a vote?

We're going to vote now. In fact, I saw a bunch of hands go up, but I want clarification as to whose hands they were.

All those in favour--

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

Can I ask for a recorded vote, please?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

All right, Madam Clerk--

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

This will be adjourned until when?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Mr. Wrzesnewskyj said it would be until the Monday after the break.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

And we can't ask the question of whether we can continue working on these amendments today?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

You can work, but you won't officially be in a committee when you're doing it. You can work among yourselves.

You know, I'm not going to allow any more of this. We're in the middle of a vote. The clerk is now going to record the vote.

All those in favour of the motion to adjourn?

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

This meeting is adjourned, and I gather from this that the subcommittee meeting will be cancelled as well.

This meeting is adjourned until next Monday at the same time.