Evidence of meeting #84 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
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—
Conservative
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.
NDP
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?
NDP
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?
NDP
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—
NDP
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.
NDP
Conservative
Conservative
Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON
Is it the clerks who gave you that advice? Is that the rule?
NDP
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.
Conservative
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?
NDP
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.
NDP
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—
NDP
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.
NDP
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.
NDP
Conservative
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.
NDP
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.
NDP
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.
NDP
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.
NDP
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—
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Is that necessary, the abuse?
There's always a comment that comes after—