Evidence of meeting #1 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Madam Chair, I wonder if Ms. Dancho could respond to Ms. Normandin's questions, and then I will speak after that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
We have a speaking list, so if you want to speak to it.... Because I have Mr. Dhaliwal after you, we will go by the speaking list.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
All right, thank you.
Then I guess my question also is with regard to the different components in the large motion. How would we prioritize those different components? Are they prioritized in the order in which they were read? Therefore, as the committee proceeds with its work, if this motion is passed, the committee could almost do the work in little chunks, if you will, according to the list that was read out.
The other question I have is this: If this motion were to pass, what will the full duration of this study be? If we begin on October 27, how many meetings will be allocated to the full committee component?
Once we have a response on that, at the appropriate time I would like to move an amendment to the motion, if I may, in reference to item number 5, which speaks about the “refugee resettlement program, meeting the Government of Canada's international commitments to settle convention refugees in Canada, work of Canadian civil society groups to bring privately sponsored [groups of] refugees to Canada”. I'd like to add another component to it, and that is to extend a lifeboat to the people of Hong Kong who are facing persecution under the new national security law. I'd like to move this amendment to the large motion because I think this is an important piece that we should study under the refugee aspect. I'm aware that the—
Liberal
Liberal
Soraya Martinez Ferrada Liberal Hochelaga, QC
Madam Chair, I am a bit uncomfortable with the fact that some committee members received a copy of the motion this morning and can propose amendments based on wording we cannot comment on—
Conservative
Conservative
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
We did not have the Liberal motion that was tabled this morning, which they tried to bring forward. They are asking for something they did not do in the first place. That's not acceptable—
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Order, order, Madam Chair. We already have a point of order on the floor. It's one at a time.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
One person speaks at a time. Please raise your hand and I will recognize you one at a time. Please try not to speak over the other members.
Conservative
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Understood.
Madam Chair, the Liberals are bringing forward some criticism that doesn't apply to their own motion this morning. They've not provided a copy to all members. At least the Conservatives provided this motion this morning to the clerk. It was provided to the other opposition parties as well. We actually did more than the Liberals are criticizing us for right now. It's a moot point.
Liberal
Soraya Martinez Ferrada Liberal Hochelaga, QC
Madam Chair, I would like to finish my point of order—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Ms. Martinez Ferrada, just let me speak for a second to clarify this.
I have checked with the clerk. The motion was received and is being translated. Until it is translated, the text of the motion proposed by Ms. Dancho cannot be circulated without unanimous consent.
The motion is in the process of being translated. I just want to clarify that.
Yes, Ms. Martinez Ferrada, you were speaking.
Liberal
Soraya Martinez Ferrada Liberal Hochelaga, QC
Madam Chair, the point of order concerns the fact that, when I moved my motion, I specified that I would have the motion sent by email to all the members, through the clerk, to ensure that everyone has had an opportunity to read it.
If I have understood correctly, some members of the committee have already received the motion, probably sent by the Conservative Party members. I propose that, to ensure that our work is effective, we need to wait to receive the motion in writing before making the necessary amendments to it—
Conservative
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
On a point of order, Madam Chair, I would like to address the speculation of the Liberal member.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Ms. Dancho, just one second. She is already speaking on a point of order, so let her finish. Then we can go—
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
—to the other one. Let her speak.
If one member is speaking on a point of order, another member cannot intervene on that meanwhile. We have to wait for Ms. Martinez Ferrada to finish.
Ms. Martinez Ferrada, please proceed.
Liberal
Soraya Martinez Ferrada Liberal Hochelaga, QC
As I was saying, I think that my privilege as a member of the committee is not being respected if I cannot have access to a motion to which I can propose amendments.
Ms. Dancho read the entire text. Unfortunately, I cannot remember all of it. So I want us to collaboratively ask the person who moves the motion to have it sent to us in French and in English, so that committee members who want to propose necessary amendments can do so.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Thank you, Ms. Martinez Ferrada.
Ms. Dancho, you have a point of order.
Conservative
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Madam Chair, I do appreciate the member's comments. The clerk is able to send the English version. We do have a French, translated version as well. It's just not quite complete.
Can the clerk chime in on how long that remaining translation of about two lines is going to take?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Thank you, Ms. Dancho.
I just want to clarify one technical thing. Notices cannot technically be given before the committee has elected a chair.
Right now we have an amendment proposed by Ms. Kwan on the floor.
Would anyone like to speak to that amendment by Ms. Kwan?