Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Feb. 18th, 2020

[A voice]

Oatmeal.

[Anju Dhillon, Liberal, Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC]

Yes, something like that.

[A voice]

Fruit would be great.

[A voice]

Oatmeal and bacon.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

We will work something out and make sure that we have some healthy choices. We'll work on that with the clerk and make sure that everyone's needs are looked after.

(Motion agreed to)

[Marwan Tabbara, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Regarding witnesses, I move:

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; provided that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

All those in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

[Marwan Tabbara, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Regarding staff at in camera meetings, I move:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to have one staff member at an in camera meeting and that one additional person from each House officer's office be allowed to be present.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

All those in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

[Marwan Tabbara, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Regarding in camera meeting transcripts, I move:

That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the Committee Clerk's office for consultation by members of the Committee or by their staff.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

All those in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

[Marwan Tabbara, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

The motion on notices of motions is a longer one—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

One second, Mr. Tabbara.

Ms. Kwan.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

With respect to in camera proceedings, I'd like to move the following motion:

That any motion to go in camera should be debatable and amendable, and that the committee may only meet in camera for the following purposes:

(a) to discuss administrative matters of the committee

(b) a draft report

(c) briefings concerning national security;

And furthermore, minutes of in camera meetings should reflect on the result of all votes taken by the committee while in camera, including how each member voted when a recorded vote is requested.

This is just to further clarify the content of in camera meetings. Again, at another committee this was adopted. It's so that we will all know, as we head into in camera meetings, what their content would be.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Mr. Regan.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Madam Chair, would it be possible to add to this motion a sentence stating that we can sit in camera when the matter concerns an individual's private information?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

So you are proposing an amendment to....

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

If you're going to have a motion like this, it seems to me you ought to have a provision so that if you have the private information of someone you're dealing with for some reason, you ought to be able to go in camera for that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Mr. Kent.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

I agree with both of my colleagues. If there is nothing in precedents that would block that, I think there would be some circumstances where a brief in camera discussion of protection of privacy or security information would allow...and then come out and vote on whether or not the substantive part of the meeting be held in camera.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Mr. Regan, can you please clarify the amendment you're proposing?

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

You're looking for wording.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

I think I would have to see the wording of the motion itself to figure out where I need to amend it. It's really to protect personal confidential information. I don't have wording. I will have it in a moment; I'm drafting it on the fly.

Madam Chair, just to clarify, the motion provides for three circumstances in which the committee can meet in camera: (a) to discuss administrative matters of the committee, (b) a draft report, and (c) briefings concerning national security.

I move that following the word “security”, we add the following: “and (d) to discuss matters involving an individual's private information.”

Would that work?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Ms. Kwan.