Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Nov. 15th, 2010

Evidence of meeting #32 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 amendment.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-35, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Elaine Ménard Legal Counsel, Legal Services, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Wayne Cole Procedural Clerk

Brenna MacNeil Director, Social Policy and Programs, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Oh, okay.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Amendment L-1 is gone.

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Okay. I will then move the motion, minus paragraph (c)--

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Go ahead, Madam.

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

This basically allowed the minister, by regulation, to “revoke a designation of a body”. I will delete paragraph (c). Now the amendment will be replacing lines 16 to 20 on page 2 with the following....

Are we on the same page?

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Just give me a second.

You're moving the first two paragraphs?

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

That's right.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

You're not moving the next one.

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

No, because “public interest” could mean any number of things.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

So that's out.

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Yes.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

So you're moving paragraphs (a) and (b).

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

That's right.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC

We're dropping the “or”, I'm assuming, as well?

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Yes, we're dropping the “or”. Thank you, Mr. Trudeau.

Now I think I'm okay. I understand what you've done.

Go ahead. Is there debate?

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

Do people need me to go into the details?

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

No.

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

I think people understand.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

No, they're all clear.

I'm sorry, if you wish to--

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON

No.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Mr. Dykstra has some comments. We'll see what he has to say.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON

We would be prepared to support this amendment if Ms. Chow would agree to the subamendments that follow. The motion would actually read as follows:

(5) The Minister may, by regulation, designate a body whose members in good standing may represent or advise a person for consideration--or offer to do so--in connection with a proceeding or application under this Act.

And then:

(5.1) For greater certainty, subsection (5) authorizes the Minister to revoke, by regulation, a designation made under that subsection.

I think that more clearly gets at the intent of Ms. Chow's amendment.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

I'm advised that we have copies, which we will distribute.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON

I'm sorry. I thought you had them already.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

No, they don't, so we'll just pause for a second.