Evidence of meeting #108 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 border.
A recording is available from Parliament.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Evelyn Lukyniuk
It is if it's relevant to the subject.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
It is relevant to the subject.
Is there any discussion on this motion?
Liberal
Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL
I just have a question. It's already Thursday. Does she mean tomorrow or by next week?
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Yes, I mean tomorrow.
Mr. Chair, I'm sorry. Just to clarify, surely, out of respect to my colleagues, we have department officials here...I'm finding out these numbers through the media. We have department officials here to brief us on this. Surely this was a question they should have expected, given that we've asked it every single time they've come here. I think they should be able, with the thousands and legions of staff they have, to pull that number together by tomorrow. They should have had it today.
Liberal
Leona Alleslev Liberal Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
I'm not sure about procedure. Are we allowed to ask the witnesses to give us some idea of what goes into providing those numbers, and whether they have that information, and how long they think it might take to get that information, Mr. Chair?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I would actually say no. We now have a motion on the floor, which I think the committee members would speak to.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
Amendments are allowed and discussion is allowed.
Did you have your hand up first, Mr. Anandasangaree?
Conservative
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
With respect, it does not instill confidence in the Canadian public that the officials who are the most senior in our government, sitting in front of our committee, in front of a table full of parliamentarians, for a briefing specifically on so-called irregular border crossings, would not have the number for April. It concerns me as a parliamentarian that you cannot tell parliamentarians, at a briefing about illegal border crossers, the number of people who have come across in April.
You have told me that you can't forecast people. Now you have told me that you don't know how many people came in.
Mr. Chair, I find this highly exasperating, and I think that if the motion on this is not moved to have it report tomorrow, there is a risk that the Canadian public will say, “What are they doing there? They can't even tell a parliamentary committee how many people came in in April?”
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Chair, this is the third day of May. Let's keep that in perspective. I completely agree with Ms. Rempel that this information should be available and submitted to committee. I just think by tomorrow is a bit much. I would suggest that we maybe add another a week to it, by next Friday.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
I make an amendment to have the document submitted by next Friday, which I believe is May 11.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
There's a motion to amend the motion on the floor, that we would receive April 2018 statistics by May 11.
Ms. Kwan.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I wonder if I can propose a friendly suggestion to this amendment. I'd like to suggest perhaps “at the very latest by May 11”, so then if staff are able to produce those documents earlier than that day, the committee members would welcome that.
I would like to make that suggestion, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
May I just suggest that specific breakdown by province as well, as was requested prior. So, that's not just the quantum, but also by province.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
We have an amendment to the motion on the floor which would be to amend it to “by May 11 or earlier if possible”.
Ms. Kwan, did you want to vote on that?
All those in favour of the amendment to extend it up to May 11?
(Amendment agreed to)
(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
I just need to consult with my clerk for one moment.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Chair, I would also like to move:
That the Department of Citizenship and Immigration table with the Committee, for the remainder of this year, the previous month's number of people entering Canada, through non-official points of entry who claim asylum, not later than the 5th of the month succeeding the data.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Chair, I would suggest a friendly amendment to that to say, “on or before the 11th of the month”.
I just feel, from an operational point of view, that gathering information and compiling it and presenting it is not that easy, and I think while they may have the information, they will need the time to put it out there.
I'm going to suggest an additional few days.