Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Nov. 27th, 2018

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Do not delete her time, Mr. Chairman.

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

I will ask again: How many times have you used your authority under subsection 24(3) of IRPA based on requests made by Raj Grewal or his constituency staff; Jagdeep Mann, or employees or associates of Jagdeep Mann Immigration Consulting; or any friends or family members or employees of Yusuf Yenilmez?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

To answer the question, I and my ministerial staff respond to members of Parliament from all parties on immigration matters as they represent their constituents, but each case is looked at on its own merits. I'm proud of the work that we've done with members of Parliament on that score.

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

Mr. Chair, I move that, pursuant to subsection 10(2) and subsection 10(3) of the Parliament of Canada Act, the minister be examined under oath for the remainder of this meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I'm going to take a moment to consult with my clerk on that issue. This is a first for me.

That is a motion that is duly moved. We can vote on it.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

I'd like a recorded vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

We'll have a recorded vote.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Before we go into the recorded vote, I wonder if Ms. Rempel can put in context the rationale for her motion for the benefit of all committee members.

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

Certainly.

Subsections 10(2) and 10(3) of the Parliament of Canada Act state the following:

(2) The Senate or the House of Commons may order witnesses to be examined on oath before any committee.

(3) Any committee of the Senate or the House of Commons may administer an oath to any witness examined before the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

There is a point of order.

[Matt DeCourcey, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

I understand that the opportunity to move such a motion exists within the Standing Orders, but I don't think that the member opposite has clearly identified how this is relevant to the minister appearing before this committee as part of an examination of the supplementary estimates. I would ask for your ruling as to how this is at all relevant to a conversation around the budgetary matters—

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

In response to the point of order—

[Matt DeCourcey, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

I'm not done with my point of order yet.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Could I have one moment, please?

I'm going to suspend the meeting for a few moments. The clerk would like to check out one legal issue on my behalf, so we will suspend for a few minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I'm going to call the meeting back to order. I'm going to rule that the motion is in order, and that the committee will need to decide whether they wish to swear the minister in.

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

Will that be a recorded vote, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Yes, it will be a recorded vote.

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

Is it not a debatable motion? I've already put myself on the list to speak.

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

The question has been put.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

The clerk didn't see you, so does that mean—

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

The clerk didn't see him and that is on the record. The question has been put.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I didn't see you raise your hand. I think we will just vote and get it done.

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

Sure.

(Motion negatived: nays 5; yeas 4)

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

We will continue now with your questioning, Ms. Rempel.

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

Thank you.

I find it interesting to note that on this line of questions, my colleagues from the Liberal Party have voted against the minister being sworn in under oath.

We will go back to the resources that are allocated as part of the supplementary estimates for MP support. I will ask if the minister would undertake an analysis of the number of times he has used his authority under subsection 24(3) of IRPA, based on a request made by Mr. Raj Grewal, his constituency staff, Jagdeep Mann, any employees or associates of Jagdeep Mann Consulting, or any friends, families or associates of Mr. Yusuf Yenilmez, and provide that to the committee.