Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 13th, 2013

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Well, you don't want me to talk about one of the main reasons I'm opposed to this, which is that the ministers were present and the whole process around private members' business. It really is hard to take, given that it's one of my main reasons. I think it's an incredibly legitimate one. If I could think of creative ways of arguing it, I suppose, that would be an exercise. It's a shame that I have to figure out some obscure reason, when the main reasons are very clear. In no other case have I been denied the right to speak because somebody else made a similar point at a previous meeting. The best I can do is continue to exercise my rights and live with the consequences.

The fact is that this whole process is mired right now because we feel so strongly about what is happening with the bill. Speaking directly to the extension, it's the extension that allows the government to have the intervention. This is hugely problematic.

Quite frankly, the only way we backbenchers, regardless of what side of the House we're on, can express these kinds of things is at committee. That's why we have committees.

I need to emphasize that this is not the right process. If the government wants a government bill with government components, then bring in a government bill. That's our point. Using a private member's bill to achieve.... It's bad enough that the government would start to play a role, when the bill is very clear and it doesn't need to be changed in any way. But to actually get involved in the mechanics of it, and to be here at committee embroiled in committee procedures, is not acceptable. It's not right. It's not the way we do business around here.

Notwithstanding the fact that the majority have managed to—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Mr. Christopherson, we have a point of order from Ms. James.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

We've heard the same argument, with their claims that the government hijacked this bill and sat at the committee. In fact, I heard it multiple times throughout the past week when you were not here, Mr. Chair. But certainly we've heard it since you've been here, yesterday and today. We're going through the same cycle of arguments once again.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Ms. James is 100% right, Mr. Christopherson. I will give you an opportunity to continue. But if you keep repeating this....

Ms. James is 100% correct in her point of order with respect to repetition. We have gone over and over this. If you have a new point, I'd be pleased to hear it. If you don't, we're going to move on.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Well, I am not going to voluntarily extinguish my rights. You say repeat an argument; I haven't even finished the argument once.

I would like to exercise—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I've heard your argument. I've heard it.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I'm not done, though. I have more to elaborate on, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I don't want to hear it anymore.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

You may not want to, but I have rights.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

No, you—

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Just because the majority says I don't have rights, it doesn't change the fact that I do.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

We're moving on.

Ms. Sims, you have the floor.

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

It has nothing to do with majority.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Yes, you overruled the chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Ms. Sims.

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Thank you very much, Chair.

It's my privilege again to speak on this motion, which the government has brought before the committee, the government side, using its majority. What it has asked for is an extension of 30 sitting days.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

You know, Chair, it's very difficult when there's a running commentary on what I am saying, as I'm speaking.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

You're actually right.

Ms. Sims is speaking, and we should give her the courtesy of listening to what she has to say. The opposition is courteous, generally speaking, when members of the government speak, so I ask members of the government to allow Ms. Sims to speak.

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

In this world we're living in right now, Mr. Speaker, the debate has been narrowed so that, for me, I feel it's like walking on a tightrope across a snakepit. That's exactly how it feels. I do feel as a parliamentarian that my rights to express myself are being limited. I will try to once again assert, but with new points, why I think this extension of 30 sitting days is a bad idea and why we are opposed to it.

When I do that, in order to explain why I'm opposed to it, I realize I can't discuss what the intended expansion of the scope is, because the motion doesn't stipulate that, but I'm hoping the chair will grant me some leeway to talk about the actual bill itself, and what's in the bill, and how that is why I am opposed to the extension.

When you're looking at reasons for an extension—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Go ahead, Mr. Dykstra.

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

Ms. Sims is making it clear that she's now going to.... She's actually acknowledging that she's not going to speak on the motion before us. She's going to speak on the bill itself.

That's actually what you said. You said you were going to speak to the bill, and speaking to the bill—

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

I will have to reference the bill.

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

No. You said you were going to speak to the bill.

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

I will reference the bill, Mr. Dykstra.