Citizenship and Immigration Committee on July 24th, 2018

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

The question that I think you're trying to ask is how we can move from the emergency housing system, which is the most expensive and least humane way to deal with any individual, no matter their immigration status, to a more robust housing program.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

No, I'm trying to understand how long people are going to need hotels for—

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

That would save cities and provinces money and—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

—and how many people—

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

—more importantly it would save people's lives.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

—are going to be in hotels, and how much it's going to cost the Canadian taxpayer.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

The average stay in the hotel—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

To my colleague's question, the question is whether this is the best way to deal with people who are coming into the country this way, and whether Canada has the capacity to successfully integrate the number of people you have allowed to come into this country—

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

The premise of your question—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

—by failing to close the loophole in the safe third country agreement.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

—is that the system will be sustained, overwhelmed going forward—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

We are sitting here in the middle of the summer for meetings—

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

—and I disagree.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

—and you have provided no context, no answers, and no statistics for us. You are going to be coming out, and you said you're going to have more installment payments. Parliamentarians here outside of the budgetary process have less information than we did before. Your Prime Minister hired a minister who doesn't even know what his job is. Are you reporting to him?

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

I report to the Minister of Social Development—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

So what does Bill Blair do? You can't tell us how many people are coming here—

[Nick Whalen, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

There is a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

—and the question you've asked is about statistics—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

—and you can't tell us what his job is—

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

—and what I'm telling you—

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

There is a point of order.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

This is the second time our colleague has wavered from the focus of the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I would ask all members to stick to the agenda of the meeting.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Blair's job is not really relevant here; neither is the Ontario Liberal Party.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

No, actually—