Evidence of meeting #28 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
On clause 4, we have amendment NDP-2 on page 4 of the package as provided.
Would Ms. Kwan like to move that amendment?
11:40 a.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Yes, I would, Madam Chair.
I would move that Bill C-242 in clause 4 be amended (a) by replacing line 2 on page 2 with the following:
tion must prepare a report in respect of a reduction to the mini-
Also, it would amend clause 4 (b) by replacing line 7 on page 2 with the following:
visit that child or grandchild, including in respect of any special circumstances to be taken into account in the process of temporary resident visa applications and a review process for the decisions made in relation to those applications.
Madam Chair, this is related to the report back to Parliament from the minister. Given that I wasn't able to get the appeal process and special circumstances to be amended in the act itself, as it was deemed out of scope, at the very minimum I'm hoping that members will support having the minister respond to this concept in the report back to Parliament.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Thank you, Ms. Kwan.
Before we go into any debate, I want to make it clear to all the members that if NDP-2 is defeated, then amendment NDP-3 will also be defeated as it is consequential.
Mrs. Lalonde.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
Madam Chair, I certainly appreciate Ms. Kwan's decision in moving this amendment. Unfortunately, I don't feel comfortable in supporting it. While the government welcomes the opportunity to review the existing super visa program criteria and prepare C-242 a report to Parliament on the current income requirements, including special circumstances examining a review process for TRVs, these are beyond the scope of Bill .
If the committee wishes for the government to implement these changes to temporary resident visas more broadly, there should be a more comprehensive analysis of the issue before making legislative changes.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Is there any other debate?
We agreed that we would suspend the meeting 10 minutes before the vote, and it's 10 minutes. Do I have unanimous consent to continue for another five minutes?
11:45 a.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
We will have a recorded vote, Madam Clerk.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)
(Clause 4 as amended agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)
(On clause 5)
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
We have amendment NDP-3, number 11779836, which is on page 5 of the package which was provided by the clerk.
Would Ms. Kwan like to move the amendment?
11:45 a.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Yes, Madam Chair. I move that Bill C-242, in clause 5, be amended (a) by replacing line 19 on page 2 with the following:
tion does not provide for a reduction to the minimum income re‐
Also, it moves that clause 5 be amended (b) by replacing line 24 on page 2 with the following:
or grandchild or the circumstances or review process referred to in subsection 4(1), the Minister must table in each
This is a consequential amendment to the previous amendment that was passed, effectively asking that the minister respond to Parliament, including the issues around an appeal process and under special circumstances.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Again, I'm a little bit troubled. I feel that I cannot support this.
Currently, a super visa applicant's host—child or grandchild—and a co-signer, who must be the host's spouse or common-law partner, must provide evidence that they meet the income requirement, which is equal to or above the low income cut-off. The low income cut-off is the income threshold, established by Statistics Canada, “below which a family will...devote a [much] larger share of its income on the necessities of food, shelter and clothing than the average family.”
A requirement to report or evaluate existing income will provide an opportunity to ensure that hosts are able to provide the basic necessities to their parents and grandparents for the duration of their extended stay in Canada, and, I will say, in addition to the other members of the family in the household unit.
At this point, I don't feel that I can support this amendment, Madame Chair.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
I see by the clock that there is less than five minutes until the vote.
We will suspend the meeting and come back after all the members have voted.
Noon
Some hon. members
Agreed.
Noon
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Amendment NDP-3 is on the floor. Is there any debate?
We will have a vote on NDP-3.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)
(Clause 5 as amended agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5))
Shall the short title carry?
Noon
Some hon. members
Agreed.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
I would leave it to you, Madam Chair. I was thinking that it may be amended, but actually, no, because we lost the vote. I'm sorry about that.
12:05 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
12:05 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal