Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Oct. 14th, 2020

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

The next motion deals with other in camera meetings: That, the committee may meet in camera only for the following purposes: a) to consider a draft report; b) to attend briefings concerning national security; c) to consider lists of witnesses; d) for any other reason with the unanimous consent of the committee that all votes taken in camera with exception of votes regarding the consideration of draft reports be recorded in the Minutes of Proceedings, including how each member voted when the recorded votes are requested. That any motion to sit in camera is debatable and amendable.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

All those in favour of the motion?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We have adopted the routine motions.

I will keep a speaking list. We'll begin with Ms. Ferrada, followed by Mr. Serré and Ms. Dancho.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, I think it's important that the official opposition be recognized first to speak. I would appreciate your consideration of that, at least before the second Liberal member speaks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Ms. Dancho. I will keep a speaking list as the hands are raised. The first one was Ms. Ferrada.

I'm keeping a complete list, so if you want to speak, raise your hand.

Go ahead, Ms. Ferrada.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm happy to see that we can finally resume the committee meeting. We are all very enthusiastic and happy to be able to begin studies that, I think, will be important for immigration issues.

I would like to begin by moving a motion. I hope we can vote on the motion today, as the committee must quickly begin the work if it wants to do as much of it as possible. I hope that the committee members will agree with the motion.

I will summarize the motion, and I could send it by email to the clerk, who could then send it to all the committee members.

I propose:

That the committee conduct a study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immigration in Canada; that the study take into account the effects of the pandemic on international students, that the committee consider actions taken to address public health measures and exemptions affecting family reunification, including identifying best practices in the development of further assistance to international students, families and foreign workers, that the committee hold at least 6 meetings to hear from witnesses and that the committee report its findings to the House.

This motion's objective now gives us the time to look at the impact of COVID-19 on the immigration system and all immigration programs.

If you like, Madam Chair, I can send an email to the clerk with the motion, as it is written. I can send the English and the French versions to all committee members.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Mr. Clerk, could I get clarification on this? Could you distribute this motion to all members?

[The Clerk]

Yes. Our office will contact the office of Ms. Martinez Ferrada and request the text of the motion. However, when the committee is considering committee business, members may move motions to propose studies without notice.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Do we email the motion to all members?

[The Clerk]

As soon as I have it, we'll distribute it to all members directly, without delay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Would anyone like to speak to the motion proposed by Ms. Martinez Ferrada?

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

If I may, Madam Chair....

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Go ahead, Ms. Normandin.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

I have a question about stewardship. There are some raised hands in the participant list. I understand that we are talking about speaking turns. How would it work if someone wanted to take the floor on the motion? I would like to know how we will operate in terms of speaking turns.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Between me and the clerk, we will keep a list. Now we have a motion proposed by Ms. Martinez Ferrada, and as per the clerk, we will keep a list of speakers, for anyone who would like to speak to this motion.

Can I ask the clerk to clarify that?

[The Clerk]

As I see hands rise using the “raise hand” icon in Zoom, I'll take note of the name and message it directly to the chair. I'll attempt to keep track in that way.

I see Mr. Regan's hand is physically up, so I'll take note of that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Yes, Mr. Regan.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

I have a point of order that I think might be helpful.

I'm the chair of the Canada-China committee, and I find that when I'm chairing it via Zoom, I don't see the “raise hand” function unless the technicians make me a co-host. I don't know, Ms. Zahid, but I presume you're not seeing that “raise hand” function either, and that might help you to see it. Yes, it works for the clerk to advise you, but you might find it simpler if you saw the hands yourself and kept a list. I leave that to you and the clerk.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Mr. Regan. I think I will work with the clerk on that for the next meeting. I think it's a good idea to have a co-host so that I can see this directly.

We have Ms. Dancho on the list to speak to the motion.

Ms. Dancho.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I appreciate the motion very much. In fact, I have a more comprehensive motion that encompasses the entirety of the Liberal motion. It does include a number of additions that have been discussed with other opposition parties that I think are extremely important to the benefit of all Canadians in terms of our immigration policy moving forward.

I would like to adjourn debate on this motion and put forward my motion for discussion. Again, it overlaps so we might as well discuss the more fulsome one. I move to adjourn debate on this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Ms. Dancho.

We will pause for a second.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

I have a point of order, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Yes, Ms. Martinez Ferrada.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Madam Chair, I have moved a motion and I'm asking that a vote be held. If the committee members want to make amendments to the motion, I am open to discussing it, and I think that all the committee members are, as well.

I think that we all agree on the study of the impact on immigration. In my view, members of the committee can discuss the details of this motion. My goal is for us to have a unanimous motion on an issue that affects us all. Regarding immigration, I think that we will find a consensus to pass a motion that brings together the concerns of committee members.

I have moved a motion, and I am asking that it be put to a vote. If my colleagues would like to discuss it, I invite them to do so.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, I put a motion on the floor to adjourn debate. Again, my motion encompasses what the Liberal motion includes, as well as some areas the Liberal motion has left out that are of key importance to opposition parties.

Rather than amending a motion that is lacking about half of what it needs, I move to adjourn this debate on that motion so I can put forward my motion that is more encompassing.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Ms. Dancho.

I want to clarify this with the clerk. Give us a second, please.

Thank you, and sorry for the delay. I wanted to clarify this technical issue with the clerk.

The clerk will do a recorded vote on the motion proposed by Ms. Dancho to adjourn the debate.