Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Dec. 7th, 2017

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

Then will you commit today to including female genital mutilation in Canada's citizenship guide?

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

I will commit to continuing to consult Canadians on the citizenship guide.

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

We know from reports this summer that practitioners of female genital mutilation are coming to Canada. The CBSA has been put on alert for this. We've also had a report that says that Canada is woefully underprepared to deal with the problem of Canadian girls being taken abroad to have the practice done to them.

I don't understand why you won't commit today to shedding light on this practice. It has been done within Canada's citizenship guide. I will ask you again: can you please provide rationale as to why it would be removed from Canada's citizenship guide?

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

There hasn't been any removal of anything. No citizenship guide has been written. Your assertion that we've removed something from something that hasn't been completed is completely false, so I can't—

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

I will go back to my previous question.

Earlier this year, in June, a leaked copy of the draft citizenship guide was provided to the media. In that draft, female genital mutilation had been removed from the guide. Additionally, your predecessor had suggested that it would be removed from Canada's citizenship guide.

I have two questions. Was this draft guide not produced by your department?

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

We have one citizenship guide now. It's the one that exists.

The citizenship guide that we're planning to put together hasn't been completed. We're drafting it, and we're in the consultation stage.

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

I just want to clarify. Was the draft guide that was released to the media produced by your department?

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

We are consulting Canadians on producing a new citizenship guide.

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

Then will female genital—

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

The citizenship guide that exists now is the one that is—

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

Will female genital mutilation be included in the new version of the citizenship guide?

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

I can't comment on a product that hasn't been completed. We are in the consultation phase. We are talking—

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

What is your personal view? Do you personally believe—

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I want to remind the member that we're now moving outside the scope of estimates. We're into a policy discussion.

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

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, in regard to relevancy, I set out relevancy on the front end of this. There are expenditures related to the development of this guide and the appropriate test, which ostensibly we are discussing today. I'm trying to ascertain whether or not government funds are being appropriately expended on this, so I see it as relevant.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Yes, I've heard the point; however, I do not believe the minister's personal views on something are within the scope of today's meeting.

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

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, with regard to the minister's personal views, the minister is in charge of setting policy direction. The development of the citizenship guide I don't believe requires a cabinet decision. Again, he is going to be providing a decision on this, so his views on whether or not this practice should be included are in fact relevant to the content developed therein and the associated expenditures.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I would rule that they are not, because his personal views do not cost money and supplementary estimates (B) are with respect to the expenditure of Her Majesty's funds. Therefore, I'd ask the member to move on now.

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

Thank you.

Minister, have you been given direction by the Prime Minister's office to remove female genital mutilation from Canada's citizenship guide?

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

No.

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

Have you heard from the Prime Minister his personal opinion on whether it should be included or removed?

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

I believe I've already answered that question. I have not received direction on this from the Prime Minister's office.

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

Will you advocate to the Prime Minister to keep the female genital mutilation within Canada's citizenship guide?

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

I have not received direction from the Prime Minister's office regarding this matter.

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

To re-clarify, was the draft that was released to the media earlier this year produced by your department or was it not?