Evidence of meeting #129 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 study.
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4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I think we should amend it, because I think it should be on the record. I think we will do it, but I would like to.... We can amend it once we're doing that.
I'd like to go to Mr. Sarai.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC
Could I ask to suspend so that the government side can discuss this for five minutes?
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
Okay. We're going to suspend and have a little discussion.
Let's go.
Mr. Whalen, you're next.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Rempel, I think this is really interesting. I think we should do it. It's good work.
In terms of what's being proposed, when amended—if we could figure out the exact words—it would be to dedicate at least two meetings to it.
You've only included the United Nations global compact on migration. You don't have the refugees there. I'm not sure if it's your intention to have both of the global compacts included in this sort of interim report period, in which case we might require four meetings instead of two to get it all fleshed out and then get the interim report in.
To clarify for people in the room, there is no government response in particular with respect to the interim report. We'll get the government response on the full report when it gets wrapped together.
I just want to make sure that we're clear about what we're agreeing to.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
There could be...if the committee directs it, but there are the usual timelines.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Nick Whalen Liberal St. John's East, NL
In which case, we are happy with doing that as part of the study that we have before us. If we could squeeze in four meetings on this topic, we could get it done before December 10.
As suggested by Ms. Rempel, I think it would be very worthwhile.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
The clerk has some suggestions.
I have Mr. Tilson next, but just before he goes, the clerk has suggested some wording. It would be, “That”—striking "pursuant to Standing Order"—“in relation to the committee study of migration challenges,” etc., “the committee study the United Nations global compact”.
It's sort of a small “s” study. We would study the global compact on migration and the global compact on refugees. It continues until “that the committee present an interim report on its findings on these two topics to the House and that they table a report”.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Chair, on a point of order, have you deemed my motion admissible as it stands?
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I would have to rule it inadmissible, unless we can find....
I'm kind of moving outside procedure to not deem it inadmissible.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
On a similar point of clarification, if you rule it inadmissible today due to the 48 hours' notice, I can move it again on Thursday.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
Just to explain, when I discussed this with the analyst and the clerk today, we felt that this was urgent enough that I'd like to get it done today. That's so they have time to get the best witnesses, given our time frames. We have a break week in November.
We can wait until Thursday. I just wanted them to get going on it.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Right.
My concern, Chair, is that if my motion is not moved as written, that the interim report will not have a government response tabled with it to Parliament, which I think is incumbent for us to have done prior to the ratification.
If the decision here is that you are trying to amend my motion, I would assume it's admissible. If you are attempting to edit it such that it is part of the study with an interim report, but there is no....
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I guess what I'm trying to say is if you try to amend my motion, I'm assuming it's in order.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Well, I don't accept that, unless there is an understanding from the government side that the request here is to have a government response tabled.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
The analyst is asking whether you are expecting a government response prior to December 10.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I would note that what I would not want to see happen through procedural technicalities is that we request to have no interim report, so say, “Don't worry; this will be part of the response to the overall study”, and then we are in an election, which would be unfortunate. That is not the intent of my motion.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
The way the motion, as amended, would go is that the committee present an interim report on its findings on these two topics to the House, and that pursuant to that, the government tables a comprehensive response. It would be that. You're not going to get a response before December 10.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
