Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Oct. 12th, 2022

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Madam Chair, I have a point of order on that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Yes, Mr. Genuis.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I had the floor. It's a motion for which I gave notice. If you move a motion without notice, you need to be on topic, but having dealt with the matter.... It happens routinely, of course, that we have a meeting scheduled on one matter and someone moves a motion on a different matter and there's—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I will suspend the meeting for two minutes. I will clarify with Madam Clerk and then come back.

The meeting is suspended for two minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, everybody. I call the meeting back to order.

Yes, we can deal with the motion that has been brought in by Mr. Genuis. I have checked with the clerk.

We have a motion on the floor from Mr. Genuis. I see some hands raised.

Go ahead, Mr. Sidhu.

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I've been following citizenship ceremonies very closely. I know they started in person back in July. I advise the member to kindly check. I have had constituents coming to my office and thanking the Government of Canada. That's how I know first-hand.

I think it's important to note that this meeting was called on Standing Order 106(4) and the subject matter at hand. We dealt with that. I hope we can adjourn this meeting soon.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Go ahead, Mr. Ali.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I agree with my colleague Maninder Sidhu. I'd like to bring my colleague Mr. Genuis's attention to the fact that in-person ceremonies are already in place. I know some of my constituents have had these ceremonies as well. I would ask him to look into it.

I ask for the meeting to adjourn. This meeting was called for Standing Order 106(4).

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Go ahead, Mr. Redekopp.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I have a couple of things. We don't want to be wasting time dealing with motions like this one at committee meetings when we have witnesses, so I think this is a great time to deal with it. We have a bit of time. It's a fairly easy one to deal with, and I think this is the perfect time to do it.

Yes, there have been some in-person ceremonies over the past few months. I agree with that. I've been to one myself. However, that is still not the norm in our department. The purpose of this motion as I see it—and the reason I will be supporting it—is to compel the government to do them in person.

So many of my constituents.... As Garnett said, this is a life-altering moment that they remember forever. This is a very significant thing for them. I know, on behalf of my constituents who are going through these ceremonies, that they want them in person.

We still have the case where the department does not want to do them in person, and I think it's very important to compel the department to do them in person. It's what people want. It's what constituents want. We're past the time when we need to worry about doing things online.

I really support this motion. I hope you guys will too.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Mr. Redekopp.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I'm sorry, but I have a point of order, Madam Chair, before you go to the next speaker.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Yes, Ms. Kwan.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I'm not clear if I heard Mr. Ali move to adjourn the debate. I thought I heard him say that, but I'm not sure. I want to get clarification.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Okay. I'm sorry, Ms. Kwan.

Madam Clerk, was that moved by Mr. Ali?

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Yes, I said that. I think Mr. Genuis might not have been aware that in-person ceremonies are in place, and this meeting—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I'm sorry, but on a point of order, I don't think he was given the floor. I think a clarifying question was asked—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Mr. Genuis, it's one person at a time. Please raise your hand and wait for the chair to acknowledge you—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I'm happy to provide rationale if he's providing rationale.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Please wait for the chair to recognize you. We have a speaking list.

Mr. Sidhu is next on the speaking list.

Go ahead, Mr. Sidhu.

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Madam Chair, I move that the meeting be now adjourned.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Okay. We have a motion. This is a non-debatable motion.

Please take the vote, Madam Clerk.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

The motion passes, so the meeting is adjourned. Thank you.