I call this meeting to order.
Good morning, everyone. This is meeting number four of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
With the ongoing pandemic situation and in light of the recommendations from health authorities, as well as the directive of the Board of Internal Economy on October 19, 2021, to remain healthy and safe, all those attending the meeting in person are to maintain two-metre physical distancing. They must wear a non-medical mask when circulating in the room, and it is highly recommended that the mask be worn at all times, including when seated. They must also maintain proper hand hygiene by using the hand sanitizer provided at the room entrance.
As the chair, I will be enforcing these measures for the duration of the meeting, and I want to thank members in advance for their co-operation.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I would like to outline a few rules to follow.
Members and witnesses may speak in the official language of their choice. Interpretation services are available for this meeting. You have the choice, at the bottom of your screen, of floor, English or French. If interpretation is lost, please inform me immediately and we will ensure that interpretation is properly restored before resuming the proceedings. The “raise hand” feature at the bottom of the screen can be used at any time if you wish to speak or alert the chair.
For members participating in person, proceed as you usually would when the whole committee is meeting in person in a committee room. Keep in mind the Board of Internal Economy's guidelines for mask use and health protocols.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. If you are on the video conference, please click on the microphone icon to unmute yourself. For those in the room, your microphone will be controlled as usual by the proceedings and verification officer. When speaking, please speak slowly and clearly. When you are not speaking, your mike should be on mute.
I would remind you that all comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair. With regard to a speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do our best to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, whether they are participating virtually or in person.
We are having some issues with both witnesses for this first panel. The technical team is working with them.
I want to take a few minutes for some committee business and ask for members' approval.
As you know, the minister will be appearing before the committee on February 17 in regard to the study we are going through. I want direction from the committee on whether they would like to finish the study on that day.
I will read the motion that was approved by the committee. The motion said to have five meetings. As of now, we have had one panel, on February 1, 2022, and two panels have been scheduled for February 3, February 8, February 10 and February 17. This brings us to four full meetings and one meeting of one hour.
Do you want to have an additional panel on March 1, or are members in favour of completing this study on February 17?
The motion we passed was for five meetings. We will have had four full meetings by February 17, after the minister's appearance, and one additional panel; in the first meeting, we used the first hour for committee business.
I would like to see which way the members would like to go. If you want to add an additional panel to make it five complete meetings, we can schedule it for March 1, and then we can work around the witnesses.
Go ahead, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.
