Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 13th, 2013

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

Okay. Just to let you know, because I think people need to know what the satellite looks like—

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

If Ms. Freeman were to come back, I would say yes.

If Ms. Freeman isn't here, then I say no.

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

Okay. So it really depends. For that to happen, we need to have Ms. Freeman here and for her to give consent.

Mr. Dykstra is absolutely correct with that. As he has said, if Ms. Freeman is in the room, then he will give consent.

Thank you.

Do you have a point of order, Madame Sellah?

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Yes, Madam Chair.

I am replacing Ms. Freeman, and I would like to know what the problem is that we are dealing with. You spoke with my colleague about the list. Can I have further explanation about that? I was not here at the start of the meeting, and I would like more clarification about what our colleagues opposite are thinking. The bill we have been discussing for hours and hours now is a private member's bill. But the government is still trying to get what it wants through private member's bills.

Madam Chair, could you please provide some clarification about how this committee is working?

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

I have just been seeking advice on the side here, because what's been put forward to me is interesting.

As you know, when we are in our regular committee meetings, you can pass your time from one person to another. In this case, Ms. Freeman is being replaced by Ms. Sellah. Therefore, the spot that is on the speakers list for Ms. Freeman—I'm just going with the advice I've received—would then, or could then, or does go, to that person if they want to take it.

In this case, I will have to wait until Mr. Dykstra comes back—

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

I have a question.

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

No, no, let me just finish my thought.

I have to wait until Mr. Dykstra comes back, because in this case, if Ms. Sellah were to give her consent, we would be able to do the mutual swap.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Are we allowed questions?

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

If it's a point of order, yes.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

It's not a point of order. It's just—

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

Okay. Go on, then, because—

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Is it the clerks who gave you that advice? Is that the rule?

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

I asked the clerk sitting right next to me, and he believes that to be so.

[Rob Clarke, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

On a point of order, Madam Chair, or perhaps just for clarification, is Ms. Sellah giving up her time to speak and is my colleague across the floor giving up her time to speak, in order for Mr. Dykstra to speak now?

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

No. That isn't what's happening.

What we have is a speaker's list and Mr. Dykstra is on it. Then we have Mylène who is now Ms. Sellah because she is replacing her. Then we have Mr. Chungsen Leung, who is being replaced by you so then it would be you on the speakers list. After that, it's Mr. Lamoureux. All we're doing is Mr. Lamoureux will switch his spot with Ms. Freeman's replacement, in this case it's Ms. Sellah, and that would be it.

Mr. Dykstra, you were out of the room when I did seek some guidance from the clerk. Because Ms. Freeman is being replaced by Ms. Sellah when it came to Ms. Freeman's turn it would actually be Ms. Sellah taking it. That's why I have given that explanation. With that understanding do we have mutual consent? We don't.

Thank you. We do not have agreement.

We are now going back to Ms. Sitsabaiesan to continue her presentation.

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Once again, you experience being interrupted in the middle of a thought and being lost in your thought.

Anyway, coming back—

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

Let me just make a point.

We hit new territory for me. I sought clarification and I really appreciated Mr. Menegakis asking a question and then all of us talking it through. Let's see if we can proceed in that manner.

You have the floor. Please, carry on.

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I was just about to approach how Australia, a country that we compare ourselves to on a regular basis when creating our immigration policy....

Is there a point on the floor? I'm sorry, Madam Chair, I didn't hear it.

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

Mr. Dykstra, on a point of order....

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

It's a point of order.

I'm trying to be as fair as possible here. I don't demand you to rule on the issue, but you advised the speaker to stick to relevancy. The first thing she does when she starts to speak is to speak about Australia, again. I'm going to have to ask you to rule on what she is now going to talk about, that is, citizenship in Australia and how it relates to Canada.

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

Mr. Dykstra, as you said, I'm going to ask the member who is speaking to show us the linkage. If she cannot show us the linkage then we'll move on.

I'm going to turn to her to have her show us the linkage.

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Madam Chair, thank you for at least giving me the opportunity to make my argument before saying it's not relevant.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

When you do speak now could you make a linkage between what you're talking about and the motion on the floor.

Mr. Dykstra, let's give her time to do that.

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Absolutely.

That's why I want to say thank you, that is, for giving me the opportunity to make my argument before deciding it was irrelevant.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for not reading my mind and actually allowing me to speak the words in my mind.

With respect to—

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

Is that necessary, the abuse?

There's always a comment that comes after—