Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 7th, 2017

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, we have a motion here. The motion is very specific. We're getting into a very elaborate conversation about refugee settlement agencies. That's a completely different conversation altogether.

Mr. Chair, I do think the debate needs to be on point, and on a number of occasions we're seeing the individual going off the point. I would like to ask that you keep the discussion to the actual motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

You're raising a point of relevance, then.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Yes, relevance.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

I believe that at this point the discussion is still relevant to the motion that was moved.

Ms. Rempel, do you have a point of order?

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

On that point of order, Mr. Chair, I'd like to reference the Speaker's ruling in the House last week. I believe there were several points of relevancy that were raised, and the Speaker made a point that a great degree of latitude is typically given to debaters. They find that typically, at some point, the person raising this will bring it around to it. I found Ms. Kwan's point relevant. Certainly, in referencing the Speaker's ruling, I believe her arguments are relevant.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Yes, chairs typically do allow a certain amount of leeway to allow the member to make their point.

Ms. Kwan, please continue.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I believe my points are relevant, and I will tie this in for the member so that he can see it as clearly as I do.

As I was saying, it's worth noting that, according to the Inland Refugee Society of B.C., some 70% of the applications are successful in getting status. Also, with the lack of resources at the IRB, 50% of the cases are deferred and are not heard on time.

What does that mean? It means that those families are stuck in limbo, and they rely on groups like the Inland Refugee Society of B.C. to support them. Also, without their cases being heard, they cannot access any resources anywhere else. They cannot find work, and that is a major problem.

So this stuff is all tied together. I know that members are annoyed that I'm talking about this. It is so very relevant to what we do. This is what we need to deal with. We need to make sure that our government—your government—collectively addresses these issues so that our immigration system is not undermined.

[TJ Harvey, Liberal, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

At the moment, the IRB is being undermined without the resources they need, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Mr. Harvey, you have a point of order.

[TJ Harvey, Liberal, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

I would like to raise my dissatisfaction with the honourable member's comments today, and this motion specifically isn't centred around the motion itself or its contents, but more around the time limits of the motion.

I think it's very disconcerting that this is being raised at this time. It's such a vital time. We're nearing the end of the session, and committees are working hard to try to get their studies wrapped up.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Mr. Harvey, there is no point of order in what you've just stated, and I will return the floor to Ms. Kwan.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

The approach this committee has taken on this is a bit trying, because it doesn't want to look at the critical issues at hand. If members had been listening to what I've been saying, they would find the relevance of my motion.

Let's be clear about what my motion was, Mr. Chair. Let me put it on the record for the members who might have missed it:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee immediately undertake a study on the current situation regarding the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), given its current funding constraints

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

There's a point of order.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

She is now repeating her statement, and I think there is a standing order on repetition. I don't believe we are here to hear repetition. I just want to acknowledge that I was annoyed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

But once again, a little latitude is allowed. Thank you for raising that.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

But not for repetition of the same wording, sir.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Repetition and relevance are very important.

Ms. Kwan, please continue. The floor is yours.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The reason I was putting the motion back on the floor is that I don't think any of the members heard the motion. They were questioning the relevance of my arguments when my argument backed up exactly why we need to have this study immediately.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

I'm calling this to order, Ms. Kwan.

I believe you have speaking notes. If you'd like to continue, please do so. The floor is yours.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

My statements are related to and relevant to the motion on the immediate need for a study, because the IRB, which is underfunded, is seeing an increase of 1,000 cases per month in its backlog. The current situation with more than 60 board member vacancies and the significant increase in asylum claims to Canada in 2017 cannot be allowed to continue. We need to have the minister and the officials here and to have this committee look into this issue to see how we can address it.

The inland refugee services—

[TJ Harvey, Liberal, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Mr. Harvey, I certainly hope there is a point of order this time.

[TJ Harvey, Liberal, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Chair, I would just like to say that my annoyance is not related to the relevance of the content of her motion. I think her content is completely relevant to the motion she presented, but I am disconcerted by the timeliness of the motion.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

That's not a point of order. Thank you.

Ms. Kwan, the floor is yours.