Evidence of meeting #7 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 c-6.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Andrew Brouwer  Senior Counsel, Refugee Law, Legal Aid Ontario
Audrey Macklin  Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, As an Individual
Tamra Thomson  Director, Legislation and Law Reform, Canadian Bar Association
Christopher Veeman  Executive Member, National Immigration Law Section, Canadian Bar Association
James Bissett  Former Ambassador, As an Individual
Debbie Douglas  Executive Director, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
Ihsaan Gardee  Executive Director, National Council of Canadian Muslims

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON

I would just like to clarify the amendment that was proposed.

My understanding was that the amendment said that we should use the time that had yet to be used, which would have consisted of three and a half minutes. The way it's been interpreted since is that all the time that Ms. Rempel actually took up should actually now be allocated, which would be closer to 10 minutes. I think three and a half minutes would be sufficient to ensure that questioning is completed.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

I just want to know what is going on here.

Just so I understand what you are suggesting, my understanding is that it is being proposed that Mr. Chen be given three minutes and then we continue on with the round, which means that Mr. Chen is the last of the first round, and therefore we would then start on the second round.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj

We are dealing with Ms. Kwan's subamendment first.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

I understand—10 minutes or whatever. I just want to be clear about what all this means, because I have no idea what is going on here.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj

The subamendment to the amendment was that there be an allocation of 10 minutes to the question.

Is that correct, Ms. Kwan?

1:10 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

We have spent a whole bunch of time talking about nothing, and we could have actually heard from the witnesses. In the spirit of moving forward, I think I would withdraw my motion, and let's just get on with it.

If the interest is to hear the witnesses—and I understand from my colleague Ms. Rempel's motion that it's simply to hear from the witnesses—let's just do it. If we get another round, that's great. I think the witnesses have a lot more to say. Let's just do it, and let's do it within the hour that we have so that we can get to the House for the next part of our work.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj

Thank you, Ms. Kwan.

You have removed your subamendment.

Ms. Rempel, go ahead.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Right now, only my amendment is on the table, which is to have an extra round for each party, or three minutes. If we do have another 10 minutes here, could you just clarify what that looks like in terms of who gets to speak, Mr. Chair?

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj

There were approximately three and a half minutes left for Mr. Chen's questioning in the first round. You have requested that the second round begin, which would add another 23 minutes. That is where it stands right now, with Ms. Kwan removing her subamendment to your amendment.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Mr. Chair, just to be clear.... Should the second round proceed, we would go through the full 23 minutes.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj

That is how I understood your—

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Will the Conservative Party have a slot to speak in that?

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj

You have two slots.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Excellent.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj

You have two five-minute slots.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Will we get to that within 23 minutes?

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj

That's of that 23 minutes.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Fantastic.

I remove my amendment then.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj

Ms. Zahid, go ahead.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Sorry, we keep it.

I keep it on the table.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON

Let's vote on it.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj

Thank you. I am calling the vote.

We are voting on the amendment to extend the committee hearing by finishing Mr. Chen's round of questioning and beginning a second round of questioning.

(Amendment negatived)

1:15 p.m.

A voice

The meeting is adjourned.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj

There is still a motion. The original motion was to extend the meeting by 15 minutes.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

It was withdrawn. Mr. Chen withdrew that.