Evidence of meeting #67 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.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
Are you saying, then, that if the child is in the process of being adopted and the parents die, according to the rules of other countries, that adoption could not continue?
Is that what you were saying in those words, or is it something that we...? Could we just change the legislation to say that adoption can proceed and then the normal course of action happens as if the parents had died in the same equitable way?
5:30 p.m.
Senior Policy Analyst, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I believe that because Canada is party to a number of international instruments with relation to international adoptions that are designed to protect the welfare of children, and as my colleague mentioned, those three primary pieces—the genuine parent-child relationship, etc.—it is not possible for there to be a genuine parent-child relationship in cases where there is no parent. In those cases, the adoption would not be able to proceed and as such, the adoption would not meet the legal requirements under Canadian legislation or the international agreements to be able to proceed.
It is not a case that Canada is acquiescing to other countries' requirements. These are requirements that are built into Canadian legislation to protect the well-being of children being adopted internationally.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
Okay, I think I understand. I get what you're saying. You're taking this as far as you possibly can without crossing that line you described, Ms. Dewan. Is that fair?
5:30 p.m.
Director General, Citizenship Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
That's correct.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
To go to this new NDP-8 amendment—
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
I'm sorry to interrupt. The bells are ringing. A vote has been called.
Do I have unanimous consent to continue?
5:30 p.m.
An hon. member
No.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
The bells are 30 minutes. We have resources available until six o'clock, so we will not be able to come back. The meeting will have to be adjourned.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
5:30 p.m.
An hon. member
It has to be unanimous....
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
I will just check. It could be a quorum call.
It's 30-minute bells. It's a dilatory motion that a member be now heard.
Thanks to the officials. Thanks for your patience and for coming back again.
The meeting is adjourned.
