Evidence of meeting #1 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was agreed.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj
The next is on in camera meeting transcripts. It reads:
That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the office of the Clerk of the Committee for consultation by members of the Committee or the member's staff person present at the meeting.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj
The next one is on notice of motion. It reads:
That 48 hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages. Completed translated motions that are received by 4 p.m. shall be distributed to members the same day.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj
Thank you for the routine motions.
I thought perhaps we might take this opportunity to have a general conversation/discussion about some of the items we might be looking at as we move forward.
I know that certain committees at times have invited the minister to appear before the committee to set out what the government's agenda might be and what their priorities may be. It's at the discretion of the committee to issue an invitation to the minister, but I put that out.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj
We don't have a motion on the table. I'm just putting this out to the committee: should we consider perhaps moving to issue an invitation to the minister to appear before the committee?
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Chair, I believe it probably would be best to have a committee meeting to discuss business with the full committee, at your earliest call.
February 16th, 2016 / 11:20 a.m.
Liberal
Shaun Chen Liberal Scarborough North, ON
Mr. Chair, I think it's very important for us to know what the government's plan is and to know the commitments of the minister moving forward. I would be pleased to move a motion to invite the minister to the next meeting of the committee.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Chairman, normally the committee is the master of its own house. We don't do the bidding of the minister. We don't ask the minister to put forward issues. We decide ourselves. When bills come forward, obviously there are obligations that we study those bills and make our reports to the House, but if no bills come forward, either government or private bills, we raise issues and topics ourselves.
I just find it kind of strange, sir, that we would ask the minister to come forward and tell our committee what we're going to study. I hope that's not what you're suggesting. It's normally the case with all committees that we're independent of the government. We're independent. We make our own decisions on what we're going to study. The minister may come, obviously, when the topic of estimates or supplementary estimates comes forward. The minister and the staff normally come and make presentations to the committee. We make our comments. We vote on those supplementary estimates and estimates.
When studies were made in the committees that I have sat on, we'd normally invite the minister and the staff to come forward and give us comments on those particular areas of study. The same process goes with bills.
I say this through you, Mr. Chairman, to the mover of the motion, that it's most unusual, in asking the minister to come, to imply that the minister would make suggestions on what this committee will study. We decide, not the minister, what we'll study.
I would ask that the member reconsider that position. If the government members have some topics they wish to bring forward, we could do that perhaps at the next meeting, which would be Thursday. I would think it would be more appropriate that we come and debate what we will be doing then.
Since there are no bills at this stage, and there won't be for a while, because both government bills and private bills have to go through second reading, we will be making a study of a particular area. There are all kinds of issues. This is a very difficult portfolio, and there are all kinds of issues that we could study.
If we're not prepared this morning to discuss what topics we'll deal with, I would suggest that in fact we do that on Thursday.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I'm going to support the motion. I think it would be valuable for the committee to have the minister present and to make a presentation to the committee, and of course the committee members would be able to ask him questions. It should be made clear to him that this is not the only time we would like him to appear before the committee, and we can adjust the amendment accordingly. I wouldn't want the minister to think that this is the only time he will be able to find time in his very busy schedule to come before the committee.
Subsequent to that, as the committee gets under way with the work we will have planned, I assume some of that work will go before the minister, but we can request his attendance at this meeting. If he is unable to accommodate us, I think it would be very unfortunate. Then I fear the work of the committee would be severely limited in that regard.
We could ensure in that communication to the minister—and perhaps this is a friendly amendment to the motion—that we clearly outline that this is the opening opportunity for the minister to offer his comments, but that it not be considered the only time when it would be important for the minister to appear before this committee. I think it's very important that we state that clearly as well.
Liberal
Shaun Chen Liberal Scarborough North, ON
Can we take friendly amendments? I'm happy to to do that, but could you repeat it for me?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj
I request that we have the motion clarified and read back along with the friendly amendment. Thank you.
The Clerk
The motion reads as follows:
That the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship be invited to appear before the committee at the next meeting.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
I suggest that we could clarify the content of the motion to be the mandate letter that he was given by the Prime Minister for the file, which I think is the intent of what my colleague is putting forward. I support my colleague's component with regard to future invitations, and I'd also wonder if the government would support inviting department officials to attend with the minister.
