Evidence of meeting #25 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was muslim.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Renuka Rajaratnam  As an Individual
John Amble  As an Individual
James Bissett  As an Individual
Andrew Brouwer  Barrister and Solicitor, As an Individual

5:30 p.m.

Barrister and Solicitor, As an Individual

Andrew Brouwer

Thank you.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Mr. Menegakis, you have one minute, if you're fast.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON

I'd be happy to pass that minute to one of my colleagues, on my left or on my right.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

As soon as the bells ring, you're finished.

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Mr. Chairman, I'm on Mr. Menegakis's left.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON

Oh, are you?

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Time's a-wasting. Get going, Mr..... Who's going? Mr. Weston.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC

Thank you.

It seems as if we're standing at a very important moment in history. Mr. Bissett and Mr. Brouwer, thank you both for speaking to us.

If you had one suggestion for us as a committee to improve the security of Canadians, what would it be?

5:30 p.m.

As an Individual

James Bissett

I certainly disagree with Mr. Brouwer about Muslim immigration, and my focus on that is a human rights issue. Anybody who can read the newspapers these days or watch television knows where the terrorist acts are occurring and who is doing them.

Europe has given us an example. If you don't deal with these issues early, you've got a very serious problem on your hands.

I wouldn't go as far as Raheel Raza, a very prominent Muslim woman in Canada, an author, writer, and commentator, who has advocated that we have a moratorium on Muslim immigration until we can get a clearer idea of who's coming. I would say that's the most important thing.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

I'm sorry, both of you, that we have to go. The bells are ringing. They're silent bells, but they're ringing. We all have to go and vote.

You're both very qualified witnesses, and we appreciate this. On behalf of the committee, thank you, Mr. Brouwer and Mr. Bissett, for making your contribution to the committee.

This meeting is adjourned.